Four arrested in West Africa for extortion scheme linked to California teen's suicide
An international sextortion scheme has led to the arrest of four men in West Africa, connected to the suicide of California teenager Ryan Last. Last, a high school senior, was blackmailed after sharing explicit photos with someone he believed to be a young woman online. The suspect in Cote d'Ivoire, who was arrested with the incriminating messages on his phone, had extorted $150 from Last. The DOJ states these men targeted thousands across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and will face charges in their home country due to extradition laws. The investigation involved the FBI, San Jose Police, and Meta, highlighting a broader issue with similar cases, like the Nigerian brothers sentenced for similar crimes in 2024.
Context:
An international sextortion scheme has led to the arrest of four men in West Africa, connected to the suicide of California teenager Ryan Last. Last, a high school senior, was blackmailed after sharing explicit photos with someone he believed to be a young woman online. The suspect in Cote d'Ivoire, who was arrested with the incriminating messages on his phone, had extorted $150 from Last. The DOJ states these men targeted thousands across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and will face charges in their home country due to extradition laws. The investigation involved the FBI, San Jose Police, and Meta, highlighting a broader issue with similar cases, like the Nigerian brothers sentenced for similar crimes in 2024.
Dive Deeper:
Ryan Last, a 17-year-old from California, tragically died by suicide after being extorted online by someone posing as a young woman, who sent him explicit photos and demanded money to prevent his own photos from being shared.
In April, a suspect in Cote d'Ivoire was apprehended with the sextortion messages to Last on his phone, as part of an international investigation initiated by the DOJ after Last's death.
Three additional arrests in Cote d'Ivoire were made on charges of money laundering, with the suspects allegedly responsible for targeting thousands of victims across multiple countries.
Due to extradition limitations in Cote d'Ivoire, the arrested individuals will face cybercrime charges domestically rather than being extradited to the U.S.
Assisting in the investigation, Meta provided critical information that helped identify the suspects, underscoring the role of tech companies in combating cybercrime.
The case is part of a broader pattern of sextortion crimes, with a similar case involving two Nigerian brothers who were sentenced to over 17 years in prison for extorting young men, resulting in another tragic suicide.
The arrests demonstrate ongoing international law enforcement efforts to tackle the pervasive issue of sextortion, aiming to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent future tragedies.