24-Year-Old Charged In Snapchat Sex Exploitation Of 15-Year-Old: FBI

NEW PALTZ, NY — Feds have charged a Hudson Valley man with disturbing crimes related to the online sex abuse of a teen.

U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI, announced that 24-year-old Max Fishkind, of New Paltz, was charged earlier this week with sexual exploitation of a child.

According to the complaint, on September 23, Fishkind "used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced" a 15-year-old child into creating and sending him child sexual abuse material through Snapchat. The child told authorities that Fishkind initially claimed to be 17 years old, but the child later realized that Fishkind was an adult and stopped communicating with him.

The FBI's investigation into Fishkind began after the parents of a minor in Maryland reported that their child had engaged in inappropriate sexual messaging with Fishkind, which included self-produced nude images of the minor that had been sent to Fishkind over Snapchat.

When the FBI learned that Fishkind had moved from Houston, Texas, to New Paltz, FBI Albany took over the investigation, which resulted in this week's charges.

Fishkind made his initial appearance before a judge on Tuesday, and was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 5.

If convicted, Fishkind faces 15-30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of 5 years to life. He may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim and forfeit any devices used in the offense. Fishkind would also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI continues to investigate this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit their website.