Less than a week after a Lower Merion teacher was arrested on Snapchat for allegedly soliciting nude photos of underage girls while posing as teenage girls, Officials say more people have come forward, including some of his former students.
Philadelphia resident Jeremy Chauvel, 31, was arrested on June 7 and charged with soliciting a minor for illegal sexual activity and child pornography.
The investigation began on November 14, 2022, when the National Center for Exploitation of Missing Children (NCMEC) reported from social media app Yubo that a user connected to two accounts pretended to be 17 years old and exploited a minor online. I received information that you are “grooming”. 1 year old girl. The user said he was looking for a “girl-on-girl relationship” and redirected the conversation to the social media app Snapchat, according to the criminal complaint.
Investigators later determined that the user was in fact an adult male, identified as Shovel.
From Christmas Eve 2022 to March 29, 2023, Schaubel continued to pretend to be a girl on Snapchat, posting nude photos and videos of underage girls while repeatedly chatting on the app, according to investigators. was requested.
Investigators later learned that Chauvel was an English teacher at Harriton High School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
On June 2, investigators obtained a federal search warrant for Mr. Schovel’s home. On June 7, members of the FBI Philadelphia Division’s Child Exploitation Task Force executed a search warrant at his home and arrested Schauvel.
In conversations with investigators, Schauvel allegedly admitted to creating fake profiles on Yubo and Snapchat pretending to be a teenage girl and soliciting sexual photos from underage girls. . Schauvel has committed similar crimes over the years and had relationships with many teenage girls between the ages of 16 and 18, she said.
Investigators also said a search warrant issued against Schauvel’s Snapchat account linked hundreds of alleged minor victims and thousands of pornographic images distributed and received by Schauvel. and a video revealed.
In a statement to parents last week, a spokeswoman said the Lower Merrion School District suspended Mr. Chauvel and cut off access to the district’s devices and networks.
“Mr. Chauvel joined the Lower Merrion School District before the start of the 2021-2022 school year,” a spokesperson wrote at the time. “He had no previous history that would prevent him from being employed. We understand that this is an ongoing investigation, but at this time, the LMSD is not aware of any inappropriate interactions between Mr. Schaubel and LMSD students. Additionally, the district has not received any complaints or concerns from students or staff regarding his conduct at school.”
Schauvel denied targeting the students on Yuv and Snapchat, but several students came forward after his arrest and accused him of connecting with them on social media apps, investigators said. person said. According to the criminal complaint, one student accused him of impersonating Mr. Chauvel and sending pornographic images of a teenage girl.
“The charges in this complaint are just the beginning. Investigators have already identified hundreds of potential victims, including students at the high school he taught.” U.S. Assistant Attorney Michelle Rotella said in her criminal complaint. “As the investigation progresses, the range of children victimized by the defendants continues to widen.”
Schauvel appeared in court on Tuesday for a detention hearing. NBC10 has reached out to his attorney for comment. No reply from him yet.
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/teacher-accused-of-posing-as-teen-girl-to-solicit-nudes-of-underage-girls-may-have-more-victims-officials-say/3585170/ Officials say more victims of teacher who posing as teenage girl soliciting nude minors – NBC10 Philadelphia