Southern Minnesota man sentenced to 35 years for 'sextortion'

A 21-year-old Fairmont, Minn., man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for producing child pornography and engaging in "sextortion."

Dylan Matthew Deling used social media and chat platforms to threaten teenage girls unless they sent him explicit images and videos of themselves. U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced him Monday.

"Deling sextorted more than 40 minor girls whom he knew to be or believed were between 11 and 17 years old," the U.S. Attorney's office of Minnesota, said in a statement.

According to the charges he threatened to rape the girls and kidnap and murder their families if they did not send him photos. In some cases, Deling posted pictures of them on internet sites when they refused to comply.

To underscore his threats, prosecutors said, he sent screenshots of maps of the girls' homes, family members' contact information and other identifying information to the girls.

The incidents took place between October 2017 and Aug. 2, 2018.

Deling had earlier been convicted in state court for possession of child porno­graphy and was required to register as a sex offender.

Even after his arrest, he continued to engage in extortion activity on a prison phone.

Deling, who used the pseudonyms "Jason Keens" and "Dylan Nash," conducted the extortions against girls in Minnesota and nationwide.

The mother of one of his extortion victims, identified as "Minor C," urged imprisonment. The girl produced pornography images when she was 17 in response to Deling's threats, according to court documents.

The girl's mother was instrumental in providing information to law enforcement about Deling's threats. She described Deling's offense as having "shattered" and "smashed" Minor C and her family, causing pain that aggravated the girl's depression and anxiety.

"I try not to think about this anymore, but at times it comes to mind, and I feel a profound sense of sadness and grief," the mother wrote in a letter to the court. "He stole so much from my daughter, and from our family, things we can never get back."