REVERE, MASS. (WHDH) - A Revere man was arrested by officials in California last month for allegedly posing as Justin Bieber and demanding nude photographs from a child.
Los Angeles Police said their Human Trafficking Bureau investigated a report from an 11-year-old girl who told police that, two years prior, she was looking at an Instagram post from Bieber when she received a direct message from a person who claimed to know the popstar.
The girl said she began communicating on the social media site Kik with someone who she believed was Bieber but was actually the suspect, 24-year-old Bryan Asrary. Posing as Bieber, he allegedly demanded nude photographs and threatened to hurt the girl. She said she sent him nude photographs, then deleted the texts.
Officials said Asrary has no connection to Bieber.
In 2016, Asrary allegedly contacted the victim again and demanded more nude photographs, threatening to publish the other photos if she did not agree to the demands. The girl allegedly told her mother, who reported the incident to police.
Police in Los Angeles served search warrants for information from the social media sites and eventually arrested Asrary with the help of Massachusetts State Police on Dec. 18.
Massachusetts Police said Asrary confessed to the extortion and also confessed to other crimes. He was charged with possession of child pornography. He will also face charges in California that include extortion, manufacturing child pornography and communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a sex act.
Police are now investigating to see if Asrary contacted any other girls. His bail has been set at $20,000 and he faces several years in prison if convicted.
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