A Winona, Minn., man has been charged with using social media apps to sexually extort dozens of primarily preteen girls across the country and abroad.
Valentin Silva Quintana, 30, was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis with 13 counts of production of child pornography, and one count each of distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
“Online predators are using social media apps to befriend, coerce, and ultimately extort children and teens,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said in a statement announcing the charges. “It’s imperative that we as a community engage with our kids about sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place.”
Quintana made his initial appearance in court Thursday and was ordered to remain jailed ahead of another hearing next week. Quintana’s attorney, Lee Johnson, said Friday it was too soon in the legal process to comment about the allegations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said law enforcement believes there may be others who were victimized by Quintana. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact federal the tip line for Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-347-2423.
Some of the same allegations led to him being charged in Winona County District Court in July with similar felony counts.
According to court documents:
Between April 2022 and June 2023, Quintana used social media apps including Snapchat and Instagram to threaten, sexually manipulate and exploit more than 60 girls primarily between 9 and 12 years old in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Zealand and elsewhere.
