Accused Fort Mill drug dealer blackmailed teen girl over sexual pictures, police say
A York County man free on bond related to drug trafficking charges has now been arrested and charged with blackmailing a teen girl by using pictures on the Internet, police said.
Sean Keith Brady, 23, was arrested Tuesday on charges of blackmail or extortion, first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, dissemination of obscene material, and harassment, said Maj. Bryan Zachary of the Fort Mill Police Department.
The victim is 16 and a student at a high school in Fort Mill, police said.
Fort Mill police began an investigation in late April. The victim told a school resource officer she received a message from an unknown person stating he would release pictures onto the internet if she did not send him photos, according to a police incident report. The victim refused to send the person pictures and police were alerted, the report stated.
Detectives investigated and charged Brady with the threats and blackmail and picture crimes, Zachary said.
Blackmail carries a potential punishment of up to 10 years in prison, South Carolina law shows. First-degree sexual exploitation of a minor can carry up to 20 years in prison, state law shows. Disseminating obscene pictures carries up to five years in prison.
Brady was given a $30,000 bond Wednesday by a Fort Mill Municipal Judge after an initial appearance in court. He is in the York County jail.
Brady had been free on $85,000 bail after his April 30 arrest 30 on charges of cocaine trafficking, possession of drugs with intent to sell near a school or park, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to police and court records.
