Washington man used Snapchat to threaten minors if they didn’t send sexually explicit photos

Editor’s Note: This article includes graphic descriptions of child abuse and self harm that may be disturbing for some readers.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A man will spend nearly 14 years in federal prison for using the social media sites Snapchat and Discord to convince minors to send him explicit photos and videos, according to authorities.

Court documents show Brandon Kuper, 22, of Tacoma, Wash. had messaged a minor in an effort to form a relationship and coerce the victim to send him sexual content in November 2022. The DA said the requests included “sadistic and masochistic conduct.”

“When the victim denied some of Kuper’s requests, he threatened to harm the victim and victim’s family if his demands were not met,” officials said. “Kuper continued to make threats and demands until the victim bravely reported Kuper to their parents and then law enforcement.”

The report opened an investigation that found Kuper had a history of using social media to find and convince minors to produce similar material.

“In several instances, Kuper asked his victims to cut his social media username ‘Merqzs’ into their skin, photograph it, and send him the photos,” officials said. “Investigators also found revenge pornography that Kuper created and posted of at least one other victim that did not comply with his demands.”

Kuper was arrested on Nov. 12, 2022, and quickly indicted on charges of producing child pornography and enticing a minor. Two years later, in November 2024, Kuper pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.

After serving 165 months in prison, Kuper will also spend 10 years on supervised release.