A Columbia County grand jury has charged TikTok influencer Benjamin Gleason with 17 counts of allegedly raping seven women over a decade.
Gleason, who has over one million followers, was arrested by New York state police on the charges and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors stated that it remains unclear whether Gleason contacted any of the alleged victims through his social media accounts.
The alleged victims ranged in age from approximately 17 to 27 years old. On his social media profile, Gleason identifies himself as an American artist and claims to be “your girlfriends [sic] favorite influencer.” His videos include lip-syncing, music performances, and commentary about dealing with borderline personality disorder.
Gleason had also created a GoFundMe donation account to ask his followers to raise $6,000 to repair his teeth. He stated that his former struggles with addiction had damaged his teeth. In a written statement, the suspect wrote: “The cost of dental repair is overwhelming, and it’s simply out of reach for me right now.”
If convicted on all counts, Gleason could face up to life in prison.
