CINNAMINSON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Burlington County) – A 27-year-old Somerset man has been charged with engaging an underage male he met online in a sexual conversation and convincing the youth to accept electronic gift cards in exchange for nude photos and videos of himself, according to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw.
The investigation began last month after the victim’s family contacted the Cinnaminson Township Police Department to report the interaction with Sebastian Romero. The investigation revealed that he initially contacted the victim in a chat room of an online gaming platform, Bradshaw said.
The investigation further revealed that Romero was aware of the victim’s age, and obtained personal information about the victim before offering to purchase nude photos and videos, Bradshaw said.
Furthermore, police allege, Romero had arranged to meet the victim for a sexual encounter and began making threatening statements toward his family after he failed to appear, Bradshaw said.
Romero was taken into custody on Aug. 2 at his residence during the execution of a search warrant. Multiple electronic devices and other items of evidentiary value were seized, Bradshaw said.
Romero was charged with first-degree production of child sexual abuse material, second-degree impairing/debauching the morals of a child, second-degree luring, second-degree aggravated sexual extortion, third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, and third-degree obscenity to a minor.
Romero was lodged in the Burlington County Jail. He was denied release during a detention hearing held Friday in Superior Court, Bradshaw said.
The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment. Information concerning the victim is being withheld in an attempt to protect his identity, Bradshaw said.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit and the Cinnaminson Township Police Department, with assistance from the Franklin Township (Somerset County) Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, and United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office.
