LOS ANGELES – A Palmdale man has been arrested on federal charges of coercing and enticing minor girls to create and send him sexually explicit material. Kenneth Mellor, 20, was taken into custody yesterday in Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, by FBI Philadelphia Field Office agents and local law enforcement, and is scheduled for his initial appearance today.
The investigation began in October 2025 after a concerned citizen reported Mellor was allegedly extorting a minor and claimed a relationship with a 12-year-old. Federal search warrants at Mellor’s residence led to the seizure of digital devices. A forensic review of these devices uncovered extensive evidence of Mellor communicating with numerous suspected minor victims, with investigators identifying approximately 12 confirmed victims and over 10 more yet to be identified.
Authorities allege Mellor used threats, intimidation, and emotional manipulation to coerce minors, with his conduct contributing to at least one minor attempting self-harm. He frequently attempted to groom girls aged 9 to 17 on various online platforms, including Roblox, Discord, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and WePlay, by misrepresenting his age and using multiple online aliases.
The FBI is seeking public assistance to identify additional potential victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Parents and caregivers are reminded to caution children about posting images online and the permanence of digital content. If convicted, Mellor faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Blake Hannah is prosecuting the case.