Cheraw man arrested for online coercion of minor

May 27, 2020

Cheraw man arrested for online coercion of minor

Nathan Branham, 39, of Cheraw was arrested on a federal criminal complaint and charged with online coercion and enticement of a minor and transferring obscene material to a minor, according to a release from United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr.

The complaint states that Branham contacted a 13-year-old minor in Kentucky through social media using the screen name Mystic and told the minor he was 16 years old.

After threatening the minor, he told the her to expose herself, then Branham also exposed himself. The minor reported the matter to her parents. The parents contacted Branham, who also used the Facebook username Shuja Jahan, at which point Branham claimed to be a police officer.

According to testimony during court proceedings, Branham engaged in similar interactions with minors on more than 30 occasions.

U.S. Attorney McCoy stated that all charges in this case are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. At this time, he remains in custody.