Man Solicited Girls In Minnesota To Make Child Porn: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS — A Pine City, Minnesotan man is accused of soliciting girls to make child porn and other sex crimes, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced.

Caleb Vincent McLaughlin, 26, was arrested Wednesday and faces four federal charges:

• One count of production and attempted production of child pornography
• One count of child enticement and attempted enticement using a facility of interstate commerce
• One count of receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography
• One count of distribution of child pornography

Since "at least" January 2019, McLaughlin used multiple social media accounts to solicit minor girls in Minnesota to create sexually explicit images and videos to send to him, according to authorities.

McLaughlin used a variety of aliases and Snapchat IDs including "Jake Benson," "Lift11" or "Tech4cm," and purported to be 17 years old to prey on girls, investigators said.

McLaughlin also offered girls drugs, alcohol, cash, or gift cards in exchange for sex acts, according to authorities.

Investigators say they have identified several minor victims but are actively attempting to confirm the identity of many others.

Authorities ask that anyone whose child was victimized by McLaughlin to contact the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).