Man Admits to Blackmailing 16-Year-Old Girl Into Stripping on Webcam

A South Jersey man has admitted he blackmailed a 16-year-old Canadian girl into stripping naked on a webcam while he recorded her from his home in Salem County, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said on Monday.

Michael Van Culin, 32, of Monroeville, pleaded guilty to a first-degree charge of manufacturing child pornography. He faces 10 years in state prison including 8 ½ years without parole under the No Early Release Act. He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life.

Van Culin was arrested on Feb. 10, 2014 as part of “Operation Predator Alert,” a joint operation by the Division of Criminal Justice and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A total of 28 individuals were arrested in Operation Predator Alert, in two separate sweeps, for allegedly using a file-sharing network to download and distribute child pornography, including child rape videos, on the Internet.

The state’s investigation revealed that Van Culin allegedly obtained sexually explicit photos or videos of four girls: three who were 14 to 16 years old at the time of the alleged conduct and one who was 17.

He allegedly attempted to blackmail a fifth girl into sending him sexually explicit photos, but she did not comply.

In pleading guilty, Van Culin admitted only his conduct involving the Canadian girl.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 27.

The image of Michael Van Culin was provided by the Attorney General’s Office