A Melville man is accused of being involved in a “sextortion” plot involving at least one underage girl on social media.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office says Bradley Garyn, 27, allegedly convinced multiple girls to send him explicit photos and videos of themselves via Snapchat – then threatened to make them public if they didn’t send more.
Prosecutors say Garyn used multiple usernames, including "ipay4feetpics," "paying4feetpics" and "PayU4Selfies.”
District Attorney Tim Sini announced the charges against Garyn include use of a child in a sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child, disseminating indecent material to minors, coercion, criminal solicitation and endangering the welfare of a child.
After the first victim came forward, Sini says more than a dozen other victims came forward. They were all between the ages of 12 and 15.
"Ultimately, he was offering payments up to $500 to these victims to coerce them into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos," says Sini.
Garyn’s attorney Howard Samuels says his client had no knowledge of the girls' ages and that no one was hurt, other than possibly emotionally. He also states Bradley has no prior criminal record.
"I don't want to see him sitting in the Suffolk County Jail or any jail for that matter in view of the pandemic," says Samuels.
The judge set bail at $200,000, which is double what the district attorney's office was asking for, and $750,000 bond.
Garyn is due back in court on Dec 9. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison.