A 19-year-old Rosemead man who prosecutors say claimed to be a modeling agent was charged Friday with more than 150 criminal counts for allegedly extorting young girls into sending him naked photos of themselves.
Cesar Mauricio Estrada-Davila was charged with 109 felony and 42 misdemeanor counts ranging from possession of child pornography to extortion to lewd acts on a child, according to the District Attorney's Office.
He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court Sept. 2.
Prosecutors said Estrada-Davila reached out to young girls on a social media website between January and April, claiming to be a modeling agent and insisting he could make them famous. He would then allegedly ask the girls to send them photos of themselves in their underwear.
After receiving those photos, he allegedly threatened to forward the pictures to the girls' friends and family unless they sent him nude photos of themselves, prosecutors said.
One of the girls eventually told her parents, who alerted authorities, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said there are 21 alleged victims, between the ages of 12 and 17.
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Estrada-Davila faces multiple life sentences if convicted, prosecutors said.
