19-year-old computer science student Jared Abrahams blackmailed at
least a dozen women and was only caught when Ms Wolf, also 19, went to
police
A former classmate of Miss Teen USA has pleaded guilty to “sextortion”
against her and other young women, admitting he blackmailed them with naked
photographs obtained through hacking webcams.
The 19-year-old computer science student targeted at least a dozen
girls and women from countries all over the world, and was only found out when
Cassidy Wolf, the beauty pageant-winner with whom he went to high school in
California, went to the police with his demands.
Jared James Abrahams appeared in court yesterday to answer questions
from a US district judge, and was asked to explain the crimes he committed.
“I hacked several girls’ computers and, using their webcams, took
photos of them when they weren't aware,” Abrahams said.
He would then send them the pictures, and threaten to make them public
if the girls did not do one of three things: reply with more naked photographs,
a naked video or go on a webcam chat with him for five minutes and do what he told
them.
He has pleaded guilty to three counts of extortion and one count of
unauthorized computer access. He faces up to 11 years in prison and fines of up
to $1 million when he's sentenced in March next year.
Prosecutors say that over the past two years, Abrahams hacked into the
computers of at least a dozen women in their late teens or early 20s from
various states and countries, including Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf. Abrahams
and Wolf went to high school together.
Court records say he also sent the women anonymous emails telling them
he had downloaded nude photos of them. He told them he would publish the images
on social media sites if they didn't send him additional pictures or undress
for him. If the women complied, Abrahams promised to destroy the images.
At least two of his victims gave in to his demands, authorities said.
“Did you know you were extorting them when you made these demands?”
Selna asked.
“Yes,” Abrahams responded.
Dressed in matching gray pants and shirt with a black jacket, Abrahams
told the judge he has autism and has been under treatment for the past 10
years. He said he was on three medications Tuesday, but he said they wouldn't
affect his ability to enter a guilty plea.
Outside court, his attorney Alan Eisner said Abrahams apologises for
his actions, and that the autism played a contributing role in the scheme.
“The social disorder had, certainly, a part in it,” said Eisner.
“Again, I say that not to blame the conduct on anything, not to make an excuse
for the conduct, but that's part of the full picture.”
In Wolf's case, Abrahams was able to take nude photos of her without
her knowledge, authorities said. He posted a naked photo of Wolf online after
she didn't respond to him.
According to an FBI affidavit, Abrahams told Wolf: “Your dream of being
a model will be transformed into a porn star.”
Wolf, also 19 and a graduate of Great Oak High School in Temecula, won
the Miss Teen USA crown in August. She has spoken publically about the
incident, saying she would use her fame to highlight cybercrime.
Abrahams is accused of employing similar hacking tactics used by a
Florida man who was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year after he broke
into the personal online accounts of Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera and
other women and posted revealing photos and other material online.
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