A man from the Ivory Coast, Aly Cherif, also known by various aliases including Australien Choco and Michael Jhonson, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges related to a sextortion scheme. The charges include cyberstalking resulting in death, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion, and distribution of child pornography. This scheme allegedly led to the death of a teenager from North Dakota.
The indictment claims that Cherif was part of an organized group in the Ivory Coast involved in sextortion activities targeting victims globally. Sextortion is described as using threats of releasing private or intimate images or videos to coerce individuals into paying money under false pretenses.
According to the indictment, Cherif and his associates targeted a North Dakota teenager by creating a fake Facebook account using publicly available images of an attractive woman. They posed as "Emily Thompson," claiming she was 20 years old and lived in Montana. The group then obtained compromising images and videos of the minor victim and attempted to extort money by threatening to release these materials. When the victim could not pay, they distributed explicit images on Facebook, leading to the victim's suicide.
United States Attorney Mac Schneider stated: “The United States Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement are committed to obtaining a measure of justice for this family.” He added that the case highlights issues of greed and deception resulting in tragedy.
Special Agent Alvin M. Winston Sr. emphasized: "This case is a stark reminder of the dangers children face online." He assured that efforts continue with partners like the FBI to protect children from such exploitation.
An indictment signifies formal accusations but does not imply guilt until proven otherwise.
Those suspecting sextortion scams can report them via their local FBI office at 1-800-CALL-FBI or learn more about prevention on the FBI's website. Resources for victims are available through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs.
The investigation involves collaboration between agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.