Calgary man arrested for alleged sextortion of California teenager
Posted Feb 6, 2025 10:23 am.
Last Updated Feb 6, 2025 5:57 pm.
A 21-year-old Calgary man is facing several charges in the alleged sextortion of a teenager in California.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) says it was contacted by the FBI last spring, after learning a man in Calgary had allegedly asked the teen for sexually explicit images and videos, and then began threatening to share them online.
The FBI became aware of the threats at the end of 2023.
On Jan. 7, a search warrant was executed by ICE with the help of Calgary police at a home in the Beltline.
Seung Chung was arrested and several electronic devices, including two iPhones, were seized. Investigators are working on a forensic analysis of the devices.
Chung has been charged with making child pornography, possession of child pornography, making explicit material available to a person under 18, making explicit material available to a person under 16, luring a child under 18, luring a child under 16, and extortion.
“Sextortion is blackmail and we know it can have a detrimental impact on a young person’s mental health and self-esteem, which is why we act quickly in these investigations,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Auger, ALERT ICE. “It’s crucial that children and teens understand that they are the victim, and to get help before complying with any demands,”
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection says it receives an average of seven sextortion reports every day, and more than 2,600 reports a year.
Chung was released from custody with a number of conditions. His next court appearance is Feb. 11.,
Those who suspect a child is the victim of sextortion are encouraged to immediately stop all communication, take screenshots of the conversation and the profile, not comply with the threat, report the threat to the social media platform, and save all correspondence.
Anyone with information about this investigation, or any online child exploitation situation, is encouraged to call their local police department or CrimeStoppers.
