A North Lauderdale man has been arrested and accused of extorting a teenage girl for nude photos, an act that has now led to a more extensive investigation into potential additional victims. Broward Sheriff’s Office officials said yesterday they arrested Ygremerley Junior Murat, a 20-year-old, in connection with these allegations, as detailed by the Miami Herald.
According to a spokesperson from the BSO, Miranda Grossman, Local 10 News reported that Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detectives initially received a tip in December about an individual soliciting nude photos from the teen girl and engaging in extortion through social media platforms. The investigation uncovered that Murat began interacting with the young girl on her social media, initially with what appeared to be harmless compliments.
As the situation escalated, “Detectives obtained evidence that Murat began commenting on the victim’s posts and offering compliments. He eventually asked for nude photos,” Grossman explained in a news release. "After sending the photos, the victim began receiving threatening direct messages from Murat demanding more sexually explicit photos. He threatened to post her photos on social media if she did not comply." These details were communicated by Grossman and expounded upon by Local 10 News.
Upon learning of the threats, the victim ceased communication with Murat and informed her mother of the images and threats, which prompted further official scrutiny. A subsequent search of Murat's home resulted in the discovery of several videos that featured underage girls in sexual acts. Authorities state that Murat confessed to the crimes he was confronted with. Currently, he is being held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail.
Detectives at the Broward Sheriff's Office are concerned there may be additional victims tied to Murat's exploitation. They urge that anyone with further information or who suspects that another person might be a victim to reach out to Detective Rolando Abreu at 954-595-0869 or contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
