A man from New Paltz, New York, has been charged with sexually exploiting a minor through online messaging.
Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that 24-year-old Max Fishkind coerced a 15-year-old child into producing and sending explicit images over Snapchat on September 23. According to a federal complaint, Fishkind initially claimed to be 17 years old, but the child ended communication upon learning he was not a minor.
The FBI began investigating after the child’s parents, who live in Maryland, contacted authorities about inappropriate sexual messages between Fishkind and the minor. The communications included self-produced nude images sent over Snapchat.
The FBI determined Fishkind had moved from Houston, Texas, to New Paltz, prompting the Albany Field Office to take over the case. He was charged Tuesday in federal court in Albany.
Fishkind appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained until a detention hearing on May 5.
If convicted, Fishkind faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, along with a possible fine of up to $250,000. He would also face a supervised release term of at least five years and could be required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, he may be ordered to pay restitution and forfeit any devices used in the offense.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative targeting child exploitation crimes.
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