College Student Indicted for Exploiting Minors Through Fake Online Persona

State Grand Jury Charges 21-Year-Old with Manufacturing Child Sexual Exploitation Material and Additional Offenses

Morristown, NJ - Keyon Luff, a 21-year-old college student from Edgewater Park in Burlington County, is facing serious legal repercussions after a state grand jury voted to indict him on multiple criminal counts. The indictment includes charges of manufacturing child sexual exploitation material and is the result of an extensive investigation led by the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Cybercrimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce.

Between January and July 2021, Luff allegedly used fictitious social media accounts to contact and deceive minors, aged between 14 and 16, into providing sexually explicit videos of themselves. According to authorities, the accused used the internet connection of his Essex County-based university to disseminate the acquired material online.

The defendant is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, pending trial. Luff faces a slew of charges, including three counts of manufacturing child sexual exploitation material, which is a first-degree charge and punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. He also faces second-degree charges of sexual assault, among other offenses.

Investigative Details

The criminal investigation was initiated after a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which reported the uploading of files depicting suspected child sex abuse to a cloud-based service. Investigators traced the Internet Protocol (IP) address back to the university Luff was attending and identified him as a suspect. Digital devices containing illicit material were seized from Luff's dorm room on May 3, 2023.

First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay V. Ruotolo stated, "Such material should not exist, let alone circulate. And the manner in which it was allegedly obtained from the victims is not only abhorrent — it illustrates the alleged predatory premeditation that went into these crimes."

J. Stephen Ferketic, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice, emphasized the role of parental vigilance, saying, "We urge parents to be vigilant and to be aware of who their children are communicating with on social media platforms."

This case is particularly alarming given the increasing use of the internet for remote learning and social interaction, heightening the risks of cyber exploitation. It serves as a pressing reminder for families and educational institutions to remain vigilant in safeguarding against online predators.

It is important to note that the charges against Luff are merely accusations at this stage. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For more information on this and related issues, residents can visit the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights website at www.njcivilrights.gov.