Convicted Sex Offender Accused Of Sexually Exploiting 16-Year-Old Girl

MIDDLETOWN, NY — A convicted sex offender was arrested after being accused of sexually exploiting a 16-year-old girl and extorting her to send him sexually explicit photos and videos of herself.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Tuesday that Cameron McEwen, 21, of Middletown, was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and making extortionate interstate communications. He was detained without bail.

The complaint said McEwen persuaded a 16-year-old girl living in Alaska to engage in sexually explicit activity, take photos and videos of herself doing so and transmit the photos and videos via Snapchat to him.

He also threatened to hack into the girl’s cell phone and Snapchat account if she did not comply with his demands.

Williams said McEwen was on probation following a previous conviction for rape when he allegedly continued to commit sexually abusive and vile crimes, including with a minor victim.

“This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them,” he said, “and this office is committed to safeguarding children from these predators.”

According to prosecutors, in April, McEwen used a social media platform to communicate with and entice the 16-year-old girl, as well as threaten to extort her across state lines.

McEwen, using Snapchat display names “X,” “Cam” and “fendii.kashout” and posing as different people, initially connected on Snapchat with an 18-year-old person, who he offered to pay for sexually explicit images and videos.

When that person sent McEwen the requested content, he threatened to leak the images and videos to the person’s family and friends and harm her if she did not find another person to send McEwen sexually explicit material.

The person sought out the 16-year-old girl, who connected with McEwen on Snapchat. McEwen then began sending the girl messages threatening to hack her Snapchat account and cell phone if she did not send him sexually explicit photos and videos.

McEwen, who also has the user names of “dxys.world,” “itsbeendrippy” and “fendii,” was convicted in Orange County Court on Jan. 13, 2022, of second-degree rape. He was on New York state probation when he was accused of the new charges.

The sexual exploitation of a minor charge carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. The extortion charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Williams said the investigation is ongoing and asks that anyone with information about McEwen or may have encountered someone using his Snapchat user names should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI and refer to this case.