West Fork man facing federal charges in New York after FBI says he exchanged explicit photos with girl | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A West Fork man, Brayden Storey, 21, has been charged with federal offenses in New York after allegedly enticing a minor online. Storey was arrested by the FBI on March 18 and faces a criminal complaint for coercion or enticement of a minor, which carries severe penalties ranging from a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison.

The case began when the West Seneca Police Department received a report from a 13-year-old girl about her online interactions with Storey, who was 19 at the time they first connected on Instagram in September 2022. The two communicated through various platforms, including Discord and text messages, discussing topics such as video games and anime. However, by October 2023, the nature of their conversations took a troubling turn, with Storey sending sexual messages and images to the girl.

According to the complaint, the exchanges became increasingly explicit over the months, culminating in the sharing of nude images between Storey and the victim. After the girl blocked Storey on all social media in March 2024, he attempted to contact her through another Instagram account and made persistent phone calls, totaling around 50 in just two days.

In a concerning development, Storey mailed the girl a four-page letter expressing his suicidal thoughts and an unsettling desire to pursue a relationship with her, despite their age difference. The package included a lock of his hair and further raised alarms about his intentions.

Following the investigation, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies, Storey made an initial court appearance in Arkansas and has been ordered to remain detained. He is scheduled to be transported to New York for trial where he will face the serious charges.