Anthony Fritzinger, a former Marine from Middletown, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. He was convicted of multiple charges, including the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online exploitation of minors, possession of CSAM, and extortion. The conviction came after a trial held on September 12, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated: “This defendant preyed on vulnerable children, manipulating and threatening them to produce explicit content for his own gratification.” He emphasized the risks posed by social media in targeting young people and reiterated the commitment to protect children and support survivors.
Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish of NCIS Carolinas Field Office highlighted the severity of the case: “This case represents the very worst kind of online exploitation.” She commended the victims’ courage and NCIS’s dedication to safeguarding children from abuse.
The investigation began when Fritzinger attempted to extort an eighteen-year-old woman using an anonymous account. He threatened to distribute explicit images unless she complied with his demands for more photos. Her family contacted local police, leading to an NCIS investigation that uncovered Fritzinger’s long-term pattern of stalking and extorting minors.
Fritzinger used teen dating websites such as Yubo, Spotafriend, and mylol.com to find potential victims. He often posed as a teenage girl to initiate contact before coercing victims into sending sexually explicit content through platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. Fritzinger manipulated victims into submissive relationships where he exerted control over them.
NCIS recovered extensive evidence from Fritzinger’s devices and accounts, revealing hundreds of screenshots of young girls’ profiles and thousands of sexually explicit chats. They identified roughly two dozen victims across several states who testified against him at trial.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar following sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The case was investigated by NCIS with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake D. Pugh and Erin Blondel.
