Mableton man charged in “sextortion” of young girls

ATLANTA - Benjamin Jenkins, a/k/a “Rei,” a/k/a “Reithe8th,” a/k/a “Dani Domo,” has been arraigned on federal charges for producing and distributing child pornography after he allegedly lured more than 100 young girls into sending him explicit photographs and videos.  In retaliation against the girls who opposed his demands, Jenkins made violent threats against the victims, posted pornographic pictures of them on social media, and sent sexually-explicit photos to their friends and family.

“Jenkins allegedly used various social media sites to lure young girls into sending him child pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.  “He is accused of acting as a predator who terrorized his young victims by threatening to post their photographs online, unless they sent him more sexually-explicit videos and pictures.  Parents and children should continually be aware of the masked dangers predators pose on social media.”

“Homeland Security Investigations will continue to fight child sexual exploitation as one of its highest priorities and will track any individual who chooses to prey on the most vulnerable in our society with every tool at our disposal,” said Atlanta Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan. “This case should also serve as a reminder to all that online predators are always searching for new victims.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: Beginning in 2015, Jenkins allegedly used different identities to contact girls between the ages of 12 and 16 years. To lure the girls, he would send them a pornographic photo and persuade them to send a sexually-explicit photo of themselves in return. After a girl sent him a photo, Jenkins would threaten her into sending him more photos and videos.  Jenkins instructed the girls on what body parts to show, what poses to make, and what objects to insert into their bodies.  Jenkins further humiliated his victims by coercing them to send him videos of them drinking their own urine or licking toilets. He also forced his victims to watch him masturbate.  

When a girl blocked Jenkins online, he sent her explicit photos to her parents and friends.  On one occasion, he posted a compromising photo of a girl to her high school Twitter page.  Jenkins also posted his victim’s nude photos and contact information online with messages for men to contact the girls directly for more photos.  In total, Jenkins sextorted more than 100 girls.

Benjamin Jenkins, a/k/a “Rei,” a/k/a “Reithe8th,” a/k/a “Dani Domo,” 23, of Mableton, Georgia was charged with 13 counts of producing child pornography and five counts of distributing child pornography.  Jenkins was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 23, 2018.  The court ordered that Jenkins be kept in custody until trial.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul R. Jones and L. Skye Davis are prosecuting the case.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.