9 More Victims Come Forward In Bensalem 'Sextortion' Case: DA

BENSALEM, PA — Nine more have now come forward in the case of a Bensalem man accused of sexually extorting and harassing many women and girls online.

The Bensalem Police Department had arrested 26-year-old Ian Pisarchuk on June 8 after they received a complaint from a woman that a Snapchat user had attempted to extort her for nude images. When questioned, he admitted to using explicit images, both actual and alleged, to extort his victims via Snapchat.

At the time, police knew of four victims between the ages of 12 and 19 — and suspected Pisarchuk might be linked to a Bensalem woman's suicide in 2016.

On Tuesday morning, Pisarchuk faced 40 additional charges including multiple counts of child pornography, unlawful contact, corruption of minors, sexual extortion, stalking, terroristic threats, harassment, and cyber harassment of a child. He will be arraigned by video Wednesday.

The new charges stem from further forensic analysis of Pisarchuk's electronic devices and from the cooperation of nine additional victims, some as young as 14 years old. The DA's office said Pisarchuk would seek to build rapport with the victims before threatening to expose or do harm to them or others if they did not comply with his demands for sexually explicit images and videos.

In June, detectives also linked Pisarchuk to the suicide of 21-year-old Lindsey Piccone in 2016. While the IP address of an individual extorting Piccone was linked to Kutztown University, at the time the address remained too broad to track. Pisarchuk — a student at the university between 2014 and 2018 — admitted that he was in contact with Piccone on Snapchat before her death, and had threatened her into sending sexually explicit images.

The DA's office said investigators have discovered dozens of photographs and videos of victims who have yet to be identified.

Anyone who thinks they might be a victim of Pisarchuk, or who has further information, is encouraged to contact Bensalem Police Detective Aaron Woelkers at 215-633-3658. This case is being investigated by Bensalem Police Detectives Aaron Woelkers and Ryan Kolb, and is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittney Kern.

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