A student at Fieldstone High School in Stony Point, New York, was arrested on multiple felony charges after a months-long investigation into a sextortion plot. Authorities believe there may be hundreds of victims linked to the case.

The Stony Point Police Department reported this week that a high school student was arrested for use of a child in a sexual performance and promotion of a sexual performance by a child.

The investigation began in February, and the juvenile suspect was arrested in June, though charges were filed last week. His name is being withheld because of his age.

“A lot of these cases end up out of state, out of the country, for the most part. So it’s a little unusual and concerning,” Detective Andrew Kryger said in a statement to ABC News.

Modus operandi

The case involves male students who believed they were interacting with a woman on social media. However, they were actually communicating with the accused student, who later threatened to distribute explicit images if they did not hand over money.

Six victims have been identified so far, but police warn that there could be hundreds more cases.

Sextortion has become a growing threat in the United States and around the world, according to the FBI, which received more than 13,000 reports from minors who were victims of this crime between October 2021 and March 2023.

Stony Point police, along with the North Rockland Central School District, plan to host a community forum at Fieldstone High School to educate parents and students on the risks of sextortion.

“Creating safe, non-judgmental environments where children feel comfortable reporting their concerns is critical,” the Police Department said.

Authorities urge potential victims to contact Detective Kryger directly.