FBI seeking information to identify victims in international sextortion case

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The FBI says it needs help identifying more than 200 victims of an online predator convicted of making child pornography.

Lucas Michael Chansler, 31, formerly of St. Johns, Florida, was sentenced to 105 years in federal prison for engaging in an extortion scheme to produce child pornography. On August 13, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of producing child pornography.

According to court testimony, Chansler targeted 350 minor victims in 26 different states throughout the United States, three Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom.

So far, only 109 victims have been positively identified and investigators need help finding the rest. The FBI has released a list of 135 known screen names, including Myspace, Stickam, and AIM, he used while sexually extorting victims is attached to this release.

Authoriteis say from 2007-2010, Chansler would pretend to befriend the victims so he could later ask them to expose themselves during a live video chat. He would then record the live sessions without their knowledge.

Investigators were tipped off about his interactions after they were contacted by the parents of a victim.

During an interview, Chansler claimed he targeted girls between the ages of 13 and 18 because adult women were "too smart" to fall for his scheme.

If you have information that may help identify victims of Lucas Michael Chansler or believe you have been victimized by him, please learn more and complete our confidential questionnaire at FBI.gov/sextortion. You can also send a confidential e-mail to FBI.VICTIMASSISTANCE@IC.FBI.GOV, contact the Houston office of the FBI at 713-693-5000, or call toll-free at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).