UNCW students among victims in alleged social media 'sextortion' case

A man accused of using social media to try and extort racy photographs from women is now facing charges in the Port City.

WECT reported that Kevin Allen Kerney, 32, of Denton, was arrested Friday on three counts of cyberstalking and three counts of extortion.

Authorities said Kerney tried to extort at least three victims in Wilmington, with two of the alleged victims being students at the UNCW.

Kerney is accused of reaching out to females through Instagram about a modeling opportunity, identifying himself as a woman named Kayla and asking for personal details and photographs.

Kerney would then threaten to send the photographs to everyone the victim knows unless they gave him their Instagram login and password.