Anthony Fritzinger, a former Marine from Middletown, New Jersey, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on charges related to child sexual abuse and extortion. Fritzinger was convicted on multiple counts including the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online exploitation of minors, possession of CSAM, and extortion.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar commented on the case: “This defendant preyed on vulnerable children, manipulating and threatening them to produce explicit content for his own gratification.” He emphasized the dangers posed by social media platforms where young people can be targeted by individuals like Fritzinger.
Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish of the NCIS Carolinas Field Office praised the victims' courage and the relentless work of Special Agents: “NCIS remains committed to uncovering hidden threats, safeguarding children from predatory abuse, and holding offenders accountable—no matter where they operate or how they hide.”
The investigation began when Fritzinger attempted to extort an eighteen-year-old woman using an anonymous account. He threatened to distribute explicit images created when she was a minor unless she complied with his demands for more photos. The victim's family contacted local police who referred the case to NCIS. Further investigations revealed that Fritzinger had been targeting minors through teen dating websites such as Yubo, Spotafriend, and mylol.com.
Fritzinger engaged victims in manipulative relationships via Snapchat and Instagram, coercing them into sending sexually explicit images. He exerted control over his victims by teaching them dominant/submissive dynamics and exploiting their vulnerabilities.
NCIS uncovered extensive evidence from Fritzinger’s devices and accounts showing hundreds of screenshots of social media profiles and thousands of sexually explicit chats. They identified approximately 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.
