Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 5, four Delaware men were arrested or self-surrendered on federal charges related to an alleged international “sextortion” scheme that targeted thousands of victims across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
According to a superseding indictment unsealed today, Sidi Diakite, 30; Almamy Diaby, 22; Abdul Aziz Sangare, 26; and Abdoul Aziz Traore, 31; all residents of Wilmington, along with other co-conspirators allegedly operated an international financially motivated “sextortion” and money laundering scheme. The conspirators are accused of engaging in cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion, money laundering, and wire fraud. They reportedly attempted to extort approximately $6.9 million from thousands of potential victims and successfully extorted about $1.9 million through CashApp and Apple Pay alone.
The superseding indictment also charges Hadja Kone, 28, of Wilmington, Delaware, who was previously arrested in April; and Siaka Ouattara, 22, of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Ouattara was separately arrested by Ivorian authorities in February on related charges.
As alleged in the superseding indictment, the conspirators posed as young females online to initiate communications with thousands of potential victims—primarily young men including minors—from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The conspirators allegedly offered or provided sexual photographs and video recordings while falsely portraying themselves as young females. Unbeknownst to the victims during web cam or live video chats with these accounts operated by the conspirators themselves recorded these interactions surreptitiously as victims exposed their genitals or engaged in sexual activity. The conspirators then threatened to distribute these images unless funds were transferred to designated recipients.
Diakite, Diaby Sangare Traore Kone Ouattara others also allegedly managed infrastructure for transferring illegally obtained funds overseas including Côte d’Ivoire.
All six individuals face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit cyberstalking send interstate threats engage money laundering wire fraud If convicted each defendant faces maximum penalty years prison each count A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S Sentencing Guidelines statutory factors
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M Argentieri head Justice Department’s Criminal Division U.S Attorney David C Weiss District Delaware Acting Assistant Director James C Barnacle Jr FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made announcement
FBI investigating case assistance Justice Department's Office International Affairs government Cote d’Ivoire
Trial Attorney Austin M Berry Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation Obscenity Section Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky Criminal Division’s Computer Crime Intellectual Property Section Assistant U.S Attorney Briana Knox District Delaware prosecuting case
If you your child someone know being exploited via sextortion contact local FBI field office call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) report online Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Additional resources can found Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI For more information about particular financially motivated sextortion case believe victim particular case please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-hadja-fanta-kone-siaka-ouattara-sidi-diakite-almamy-moustapha-diaby
An indictment is merely an allegation All defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law