Providence High School student charged with coercing, sexual exploitation of 10-year-old girl
Authorities say according to information presented to the court, Akinlapa allegedly communicated with more than a dozen pre-pubescent girls in the much of the same way it is alleged that he communicated with the 10-year-old girl from Utah.
PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Providence say they have charged an 18-year-old man after he allegedly coerced a 10-year-old Utah girl to “disrobe and engage in sexually explicit conduct in front of a camera.”
Authorities say according to court documents Akinola Akinlapa, 18, a Providence High School student, used an online user name of ‘Melissa#7384.’ With that username, Akinlapa messaged the girl from Utah with a link to what he told her was an online children’s gaming platform.
The links Akinlapa sent opened up to blank pages but yet a video call was initiated between the two, according to authorities.
Authorities allege that Akinlapa told the 10-year-old that the link she had clicked transmitted a virus to her computer and that her personal information had been taken. Akinlapa then allegedly blackmailed the 10-year-old to undress in front of the camera or else he would release her personal information to the public.
It is alleged in court documents that when the girl undressed and stood in front of the camera, Akinlapa instructed the girl to perform sexual acts. The girl pretended to comply, cut off communications, and notified her mother who then contacted police, according to the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office.
Authorities in both Utah and Providence identified an IP address at Akinlapa’s Providence home as being the source of communications with the 10-year-old girl.
When authorities searched Akinlapa’s home on June 2, authorities conducted a brief forensic review of a smartphone that allegedly belonged to him. On the phone, they found images of at least two female minors that were also allegedly discovered by investigators to be victims of similar sexual exploitations by Akinlapa.
Authorities say according to information presented to the court, Akinlapa allegedly communicated with more than a dozen pre-pubescent girls in the much of the same way it is alleged that he communicated with the 10-year-old girl from Utah.
Akinlapa was arrested on June 3 and is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a child, possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, coercion, enticement of a minor, and possession of child pornography.
