Man Nabbed In PA ‘Sextortion’ Of 5 Minors, 30 Others: State Police

PENNSYLVANIA - A Florida man was arrested earlier this month after sexually exploiting four Pennsylvania teens and a 12-year-old girl as part of a yearslong global "sextortion" scheme, Pennsylvania state police said Thursday.

Alvaro Andres Valarezo Sandoval, a Miami resident and Ecuadorian national, allegedly received sexually explicit materials from children between the ages of 12 and 17 years old across Hamilton Township, Greene Township, Guilford Township and Saint Thomas Township in Franklin County and blackmailed those individuals in a scheme dating back to at least 2019.

Valarezo Sandoval, 34, was arrested Jan. 18 at his Miami residence by Pennsylvania State Police with the help of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was charged with over two dozen felonies ranging from sexual abuse of children, criminal solicitation, dissemination of child pornography and corruption of minors.

More than 30 other victims across the U.S. and internationally were found dating back to 2013 through online “sextortion,” state police said. Several electronic devices were also taken by police from his home during his arrest.

State police troopers in Chambersburg began investigating Valarezo Sandoval after they received a report of sexual extortion from a minor in 2019, which revealed "several incidents of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.”

As of Thursday, Valarezo Sandoval was held in custody of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department pending his extradition to the Keystone State.

“Sextortion schemes occur in online environments where people especially minors feel most comfortable using social media sties, gaming sites or video chat applications which feel familiar and safe to minors,” state police said in a report. “On these platforms, predators often use fake accounts and target minors.”

Extortionists convince minors to create and distribute a sexually explicit video or photo, often after befriending the minor, state police said. Once a photo or video is acquired, the sextortionist often threatens to release the material unless the victim sends more material, or hands over money or gifts cards to keep them from releasing the material.

“The shame, fear and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse and can be a traumatic experience which may drive them toward self-harm and even death by suicide,” police said.

Victims and parents of victims of sexual exploitation can follow these steps, state police said:

• Report the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature
• Block the predator and do not delete the profile or messages
• Save all conversations, chats and exchanges with the predator
• Ask for help from adults and law enforcement

If you feel you don’t have trusted adults in your corner, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for support at gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST, state police said.