Man Accused Of Extorting Juvenile Girls To Send Nude Images Over Snapchat

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Police are searching for a 19-year-old man they said extorted minors for nude photos through the social media app Snapchat.

A $500,000 arrest warrant has been issued for Gabe Ryan Gilbert, of South Jordan, after he allegedly contacted juvenile girls through the app and threatened to Photoshopped nude images of them if they didn’t send him real nude photos, the Deseret News reports.

Authorities have identified at least 50 potential victims.

He’s been charged with five counts of aggravated sexual extortion of a child and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, all felonies.

When authorities went to Gilbert’s home in March, they discovered he was in Mexico serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to charging documents. He had reportedly left approximately two months after the alleged extortion attempt.

Gilbert was sent home from his mission in April, according charges, but his parents refused to disclose Gilbert’s location.