TAMPA -- The Hillsborough and Pasco Sheriff's Offices are conducting a joint investigation, after learning that criminals are posing as Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, to engage in sextortion.
The offices say that individuals are calling victims, telling them that they have an arrest warrant on charges of selling drugs. These callers are demanding explicit photographs and videos of the victims having sex, allegedly to prove they are not carrying drugs.
Last week, deputies say a 17-year-old girl reported she was scammed into having sex with a man identified as 29-year-old Denario Hicks, and making a video. He is facing charges for having sex with a minor, but detectives don't think he's the one running the scam.
Detectives believe the scam is being run out of the Dominican Republic, using phishing technology.
Both sheriffs Nocco and Chronister pledge that they're doing everything in their power to arrest those involved. They both urge residents to call 911 if they receive a call like this.
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