A Koreatown resident pleaded guilty on May 20 to two child exploitation charges for convincing teenage girls to send him sexually explicit images and then coercing the victims to send him more photographs after threatening to publish the images.

Francisco Sanchez, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography. In a plea agreement filed in United States District Court, Sanchez admitted that he used websites and computer applications to “meet” girls under 18 years old. From 2014 through September 2016, Sanchez used the pseudonym “Eddie Nash” to pose as a teenage boy and develop romantic relationships with his victims so he could obtain sexually explicit images and videos from them, authorities said.

In some cases, Sanchez convinced his victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video chats, which allowed him to take pornographic screen shots of the minors. At other times, Sanchez threatened to commit suicide to coerce the victims into sending him pictures or videos.

After obtaining images from the girls, Sanchez threatened to publish or expose the victims if they did not send additional images or videos. Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 15. Each charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory 15-year minimum sentence, and a maximum of up to 30 years in federal prison.