Federal, local authorities ask victims to come forward
CHENANGO COUNTY – Authorities are seeking the public's assistance following the arrest and indictment of an Arkansas man.
Steven Lesmeister was indicted June 4 on three federal felony charges for sending unprovoked lewd messages and videos to juvenile females in Virginia, New York and North Carolina. Lesmeister is 38 and from Harrison, Arkansas.
Homeland Security Investigations is now requesting that anyone who has been contacted by Lesmeister via social media and received unprovoked text messages and/or videos to please contact the agency immediately. Individuals can do so by calling the 24-hour HSI Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.
Members of the public are also able to submit an online tip at ice.gov/tips or by downloading the Operation Predator smartphone app and submitting a tip via the app. All tips will remain anonymous.
Lieutenant Richard Cobb with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office said that anyone who may have been victimized by the accused, Lesmeister, can also contact the CCSO by calling 334-2000, or by walking into the office.
Last September when authorities first provided details regarding the case, the name of the alleged was not available, only the photo.
Per the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Sept. 26, 2014, the man allegedly contacted many young females in the area by using an application titled FaceTime. “When the victim answers, he performs a lewd act in front of the camera. He also has threatened physical harm to at least one of the victims,” read a release. It was unknown at the time as to who the man was.
The Norwich Police Department confirmed there was at least one victim in the City of Norwich.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office had several victims come forward from the area.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is now seeking the public’s help to identify additional victims of the Arkansas man facing the charges.
According to HSI investigators, Lesmeister used false Facebook profiles including the names Sarhhaarra Lonelygirl Henxdrixx and Chloe Jane Wilson in order to “friend” teenage girls across the country. Investigators additions said that after obtaining the girls’ phone numbers and/or email addresses, Lesmeister would send numerous messages and videos of himself with negative content.
Special Agents with the HSI, the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Harrison Police Department have reason to believe that Lesmeister may have contacted additional females who have not yet come forward due to the content of the videos and messages.
This ensuing investigation following Lesmeister’s arrest is being conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, and international initiative to protect children from sexual predators.
“Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative,” read a release from the ICE.
Cobb said that even if a victim no longer has video or images that may have been sent by the accused, they are encouraged to come forward as there are other means of corroborating statements, including an examination of Lesmeister’s computer records.
Steven Lesmeister was indicted June 4 on three federal felony charges for sending unprovoked lewd messages and videos to juvenile females in Virginia, New York and North Carolina. Lesmeister is 38 and from Harrison, Arkansas.
Homeland Security Investigations is now requesting that anyone who has been contacted by Lesmeister via social media and received unprovoked text messages and/or videos to please contact the agency immediately. Individuals can do so by calling the 24-hour HSI Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.
Members of the public are also able to submit an online tip at ice.gov/tips or by downloading the Operation Predator smartphone app and submitting a tip via the app. All tips will remain anonymous.
Lieutenant Richard Cobb with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office said that anyone who may have been victimized by the accused, Lesmeister, can also contact the CCSO by calling 334-2000, or by walking into the office.
Last September when authorities first provided details regarding the case, the name of the alleged was not available, only the photo.
Per the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Sept. 26, 2014, the man allegedly contacted many young females in the area by using an application titled FaceTime. “When the victim answers, he performs a lewd act in front of the camera. He also has threatened physical harm to at least one of the victims,” read a release. It was unknown at the time as to who the man was.
The Norwich Police Department confirmed there was at least one victim in the City of Norwich.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office had several victims come forward from the area.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is now seeking the public’s help to identify additional victims of the Arkansas man facing the charges.
According to HSI investigators, Lesmeister used false Facebook profiles including the names Sarhhaarra Lonelygirl Henxdrixx and Chloe Jane Wilson in order to “friend” teenage girls across the country. Investigators additions said that after obtaining the girls’ phone numbers and/or email addresses, Lesmeister would send numerous messages and videos of himself with negative content.
Special Agents with the HSI, the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Harrison Police Department have reason to believe that Lesmeister may have contacted additional females who have not yet come forward due to the content of the videos and messages.
This ensuing investigation following Lesmeister’s arrest is being conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, and international initiative to protect children from sexual predators.
“Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative,” read a release from the ICE.
Cobb said that even if a victim no longer has video or images that may have been sent by the accused, they are encouraged to come forward as there are other means of corroborating statements, including an examination of Lesmeister’s computer records.
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