PA Man Charged With Sexually Exploiting NJ Teen For Nude Images: Feds

PERTH AMBOY, NJ - A Pennsylvania 19-year-old was charged this week in connection with a blackmail and sexual exploitation scheme involving a New Jersey minor that went on for over a year, federal authorities said.

Diego Ramos, 19, of Blakeslee, P.a., is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of attempted enticement of a minor in connection with the scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Thursday.

Ramos was remanded to jail on Nov. 30 after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court, federal officials said.

Between From May 29, 2021 to Nov. 29, 2022, Ramos used several Instagram accounts and other online messaging platforms to coerce the Perth Amboy minor, who is now 19, to send sexually explicit images and videos to him, Sellinger said, citing court documents and statements made in court.

Ramos also threatened the victim “with public exposure” if she did not continue to send the explicit content Ramos requested, and ultimately caused the victim to pay Ramos $12,982 to stop him from publicly releasing the images, Sellinger said.

Ramos also began asking for explicit images of the victim’s younger sister, who was about 15 years old at the time, Sellinger said, to which the victim provided.

On Nov. 18, Ramos’ messages to the victim over Twitter were received by law enforcement which posed as the victim from Nov. 18 to 29 using her devices and social media accounts.

The count of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, Sellinger said. The count of attempted enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. Both counts are punishable by a maximum of life in prison.