A Peters Township High School senior is facing hundreds of charges after authorities said he exploited multiple juveniles to send him pornographic videos or photos of themselves.Authorities say the investigation into the “large-scale criminal network,” involving catfishing and sextortion, began on Dec. 5, 2025. According to the criminal complaint, authorities interviewed 30 juveniles connected to the case. At least 21 of those juveniles have been identified as victims to the catfishing sextortion. Authorities say Zachariah Meyers, an 18-year-old senior at Peters Township High School, used social media, including TikTok and Telegram, to lure the other juveniles to connect with him.Meyers allegedly catfished some of the victims by pretending to be fictitious people using photos and videos of people who were not involved. One of which, authorities say, was an adult film actress from a different country. “Meyers was able to deceive and coerce juvenile males into sending explicit pornographic images and videos of themselves,” authorities said in their report.In one case, officials say Meyers directed a juvenile to have sexual intercourse with two adult men, record video inside a gym locker room and then send those videos to an account. Meyers was identified by police after they say they executed a search warrant for information on the the social usernames and Google accounts being used on platforms. On Feb. 20, authorities took Meyers into custody for questioning. He faces over 300 charges, including dozens of counts of sexual abuse of children, sexual exploitation of children and sexual extortion. Meyers has since been arraigned. Statement from Peters Township School District”Earlier today, the Peters Township Police made the District aware of an ongoing investigation related to a student at Peters Township High School. The Police have indicated that there is no immediate safety risk to our schools, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation. The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our highest priority, and we appreciate all the efforts of the Peters Township Police in this matter.”
PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A Peters Township High School senior is facing hundreds of charges after authorities said he exploited multiple juveniles to send him pornographic videos or photos of themselves.
Authorities say the investigation into the “large-scale criminal network,” involving catfishing and sextortion, began on Dec. 5, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities interviewed 30 juveniles connected to the case. At least 21 of those juveniles have been identified as victims to the catfishing sextortion.
Authorities say Zachariah Meyers, an 18-year-old senior at Peters Township High School, used social media, including TikTok and Telegram, to lure the other juveniles to connect with him.
Meyers allegedly catfished some of the victims by pretending to be fictitious people using photos and videos of people who were not involved. One of which, authorities say, was an adult film actress from a different country.
“Meyers was able to deceive and coerce juvenile males into sending explicit pornographic images and videos of themselves,” authorities said in their report.
In one case, officials say Meyers directed a juvenile to have sexual intercourse with two adult men, record video inside a gym locker room and then send those videos to an account.
Meyers was identified by police after they say they executed a search warrant for information on the the social usernames and Google accounts being used on platforms.
On Feb. 20, authorities took Meyers into custody for questioning.
He faces over 300 charges, including dozens of counts of sexual abuse of children, sexual exploitation of children and sexual extortion.
Meyers has since been arraigned.
Statement from Peters Township School District
“Earlier today, the Peters Township Police made the District aware of an ongoing investigation related to a student at Peters Township High School. The Police have indicated that there is no immediate safety risk to our schools, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our highest priority, and we appreciate all the efforts of the Peters Township Police in this matter.”