A Newburgh man faces charges for allegedly using the communication platform Discord to extort sexually explicit material from a minor. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI's New York Field Office announced the unsealing of a complaint charging Carsen Mansfield with extortionate interstate communications. The arrest, which took place on Tuesday, was followed by Mansfield's subsequent court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains.
In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney, pointed out the disturbing nature of the allegations, stating: "As alleged Carsen Mansfield used Discord to track down and exploit the minor female victim. Protecting our children is central to our mission, and we will prosecute those who victimize them to the fullest extent of the law." The charges stem from an incident dated August 4, 2024, during which Mansfield allegedly sent the victim photographs of herself that she had previously taken and threatened to share them with her friends and family unless she provided more explicit images.
The alleged actions by Mansfield, who is 23, represents a violation of the victim's privacy and security that the FBI takes very seriously. Christopher G. Raia, the FBI Assistant Director in Charge, commented on the dedication to protecting minors, saying: "Carsen Mansfield allegedly extorted and threatened a minor in another state to provide sexually explicit images. Mansfield’s alleged actions violated a vulnerable victim’s privacy to satiate his personal disturbing desires. The FBI remains committed to protecting any minor from those who wish to inflict sexual harm, regardless of where they are located," according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Anyone with relevant information about Carsen Mansfield or encounters with users under the Discord username "noname45.#0" or the X username "expogirlsss" are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or through their online tip form, as per the press release. Mansfield is charged with one count of extortionate interstate communications, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of two years in prison. However, since the charges in the complaint are merely accusations, Mansfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret N. Vasu leading the prosecution.
