San Antonio -- An accused child pornographer is behind bars tonight. Investigators say the San Antonio man was promising young women their 15 minutes of fame in exchange for nude photos.
Gemase Lee Simmons was charged today with distributing child pornography.
The FBI believes he enticed these young girls by offering them the opportunity to be a model and spokesperson for his new company called G2News.
But before he could officially hire these underage girls, he would tell them they had to learn how to be a model. The FBI claims Gemase posed as at least two different people, harassing and coercing young girls to send him nude pictures of themselves via text message. And when they wanted to stop they were threatened. Court documents we got a hold of today say Simmons admitted to pressuring the girls.
But Gemase Simmons is no stranger to the spotlight. A quick Google search is all it took to find a 2008 NBC Dateline special with Simmons as the accused conman. He had promised a group of young, aspiring models the chance a lifetime. They would be on a reality-TV show, get a modeling contract and $50,000 if they won. But the show never aired and some of these contestants were duped out of thousands of dollars.
If convicted of the federal charge Simmons could face up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
He’s currently being held without bond in a federal detention center because he was on probation for a state charge of auto-theft.
There were three victims referenced in the federal court document. But the FBI believes there could be more people out there who might have sent nude pictures of themselves to Simmons.
If you have any information, give the FBI a call at 210-225-6741.
