Virginia Man Exploited MN Girl Over Instagram For Videos: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS — A Virginia man has been indicted for using social media to contact and coerce a girl in Minnesota to create sexually explicit material, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

Raymond Jung Woo Choi, 41, faces one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.

On Monday, Choi appeared in the U.S. District Court in Virginia before Magistrate Judge Lindsey R. Vaala. On Tuesday, Choi was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings in the District of Minnesota.

Between November 2023 and February 2024, Choi used Instagram and other social media apps to engage in sexually-focused conversations with a girl in Minnesota who was 14 years old, authorities said.

Using the alias "Jason Lee," Choi coerced the girl to send him sexually explicit images and videos on Instagram, according to investigators.

Choi also groomed and enticed the minor victim by providing gifts, which he sent through Amazon or the U.S. Postal Service, authorities said.

On Feb. 17, Choi flew from Virginia to Minnesota to attempt to meet the girl in person, according to prosecutors. Because of family and law enforcement intervention, Choi failed his meeting attempt and flew back to Virginia, authorities said.

But on July 13, Choi was arrested in Fairfax City, Virginia.