Sexual Predator Allegedly Used Fortnite to Target Children

Throughout 2018 and the beginning of 2019, Fortnite Battle Royale has been a video game titles that has helped to connect players from across the world with its massive community and cross platform capabilities that allow players to play with anyone else on Fortnite no matter what platform they are playing on. However, a recent situation has seen Fortnite allegedly be used to help facilitate a truly horrific crime. 

According to an official news release from Florida Attorney Ashley Moody made on Thursday, January 17th, Anthony Gene Thomas, a 41-year-old Florida Man, had been arrested and accused of "offenses related to unlawful sex with a minor including 22 counts of child pornography". These charges stem from Thomas allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a minor and soliciting pornographic photos and video of the victim by using the battle royale title of Fortnite in order to make contact with the victim. 

Authorities believe that there could be as many as 20 additional victims, according to the official statement provided by Moody. 

This case is disturbing not only because it involves child pornography, but also because a popular online game was used to communicate with the victim," said Ashley Moody. "We have reason to believe there could be additional victims, and I am asking anyone with information about the recruiting of minors for child pornography, or any other type of sexual exploitation, to call law enforcement immediately. 

“Additionally, parents need to know that predators will use any means possible to target and exploit a child," Ashley Moody continued. "I am asking parents and guardians to please make sure you know who your children meet online, and talk to them about sexual predators."

According to an investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, a co-conspirator of Thomas made contact with the victims through the voice-chat feature of Fortnite and introduced the victim to Thomas after developing a relationship with them. The victim then expressed hardships at home that Thomas responded to by manipulating the victim with gifts. These gifts included a credit card and a cell phone that was used as the primary form of communication between Thomas and the victim. 

August 25th, 2018 then saw Thomas and the co-conspirator transport the victim to Broward County where Thomas allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the victim. Police were then contacted by the parents of the victim who had declared the child missing and were able to find and bring the child back home on August 26th. October 11th then saw Law Enforcement execute a search warrant and seize Thomas' phone where pornographic images and videos of the victim were found. 

With online communication often being a central part of multiplayer games, such as Fortnite, cases like the one above show that it can be used in truly horrific ways. However, the ability to communicate with other online players who are strangers can be turned off in the settings of multiplayer titles for parents who wish to not have their child speaking to players that they do not know when playing. 

(cover photo courtesy of Xbox)