Man Accused of Posing as Modeling Agent to Lure Women for Sex Acts: DA

A local man has been accused of posing as a modeling agent to lure women to take nude photographs and then threatening to share the photos online if they didn’t perform sex acts, San Diego County prosecutors said Friday.

Maverick Mendez Rosales, 24, pleaded not guilty to extortion, two counts of oral copulation by duress, one count of rape by duress and sexual battery. He was ordered to be held on $300,000 bail.

Prosecutors said they’ve filed felony charges against Rosales, who is accused of running a fictitious modeling agency for years.

He allegedly had two young women pose for photos – and then later threatened to release the photos on the Internet or to the women’s families if they didn’t perform sex acts or pay him money, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Rosales solicited the women using sites such as Craigslist and Facebook. One of the women was extorted for her nude photos for two years, said Deputy District Attorney Martin Doyle.

Doyle said the investigation is ongoing.

"We have reason to believe there are additional victims," he said.

If convicted of charges, Rosales could face 13 years in prison.

Anyone who believes they could have been a victim of Rosales are asked to call District Attorney Investigator Nancy Dodd at 619-615-6864.

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