New Jersey man indicted on 15 counts of extortion and child pornography

TRENTON, N.J. — A Salem County, New Jersey, man was indicted in state court Friday on multiple counts of extortion and first-degree manufacturing child pornography.

The indictment resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice.

Michael Van Culin, 31, of Monroeville, New Jersey, allegedly obtained sexually explicit photos and videos of four underage girls; three of whom were 14 to 16 years old at the time of the alleged conduct and one who was 17.  He allegedly attempted to blackmail a fifth girl into sending him sexually explicit photos, but she did not comply. 

Van Culin was charged in a 15-count indictment. He is charged with two counts of manufacturing child pornography (1st degree), one count of manufacturing child pornography (2nd degree), five counts of extortion (2nd degree), one count of computer theft by altering computer data (2nd degree), four counts of computer theft by unauthorized access (3rd degree), one count of distribution of child pornography (2nd degree) for allegedly distributing pornographic images to another person, and one count of possession of child pornography (3rd degree).  He also is charged with hacking into email and online accounts of two additional victims, a teenage girl and the boyfriend of one of the alleged extortion victims.

“The use of social media, apps and other platforms as grooming tools by child sexual predators represents a growing threat,” said Kevin Kelly, acting special agent in charge of HSI Newark. “This threat is one that, with the cooperation of our law enforcement partners in New Jersey, Homeland Security Investigations is meeting head on. HSI is fully committed to protecting the most vulnerable among our society.”

 “Van Culin allegedly was a parent’s worst nightmare: a predator who stalked young girls on the Internet, exploiting his victims’ vulnerabilities and fears to force them to comply with his deviant demands,” said John J. Hoffman, acting attorney general. “In some cases, Van Culin allegedly targeted victims who were hundreds of miles away, but the distance did not in any way diminish the terrible emotional harm he inflicted. He rightfully faces a very lengthy prison sentence if convicted.”  

“The Internet is often referred to as a virtual world, but the dangers children face from online predators are all too real, as this case illustrates,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice.  “We’ll continue to work with our state and federal partners, marshaling our expertise to patrol the Internet and catch offenders like Van Culin, who we allege sexually exploited innocent teenage girls.”

It is alleged that Van Culin would contact and befriend teenage girls on the Internet using popular social media sites or chat rooms, usually presenting himself as a teenage boy.  He obtained nude photos of the victims or sensitive personal information about them through those chats or, in several cases, by hacking into their email or social media accounts.  He then threatened to release the photos or personal information about the victims on the Internet or expose them to their parents, a boyfriend or their schoolmates if they did not meet his demands.  He ordered the girls to send him explicit photos of themselves or strip on a webcam and engage in sexual conduct, which he recorded. 

Van Culin was arrested on Feb. 10, 2014 as part of “Operation Predator Alert,” a joint operation by the Division of Criminal Justice HSI.  A total of 28 individuals were arrested in Operation Predator Alert, in two separate sweeps, for allegedly using a file-sharing network to download and distribute child pornography, including child rape videos, on the Internet. 

Van Culin is charged under the state’s strict new child pornography law, which carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, 85 percent of which must be served without parole.  Van Culin’s victims live in Canada, Arizona, Philadelphia, Maryland and Seattle.

The first-degree counts of manufacturing child pornography carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, including a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed, and a fine of up to $500,000.  Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.