This case involved a sextortion scheme perpetrated by inmates in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, as well as co-conspirators outside of the prison, against U.S. military personnel. In this sextortion scheme, the inmates, using smartphones they smuggled into the prison, signed up for dating apps and targeted U.S. military members utilizing these apps. The defendants and co-conspirators created fake profiles of women using images that they found online. After contacting the targets and obtaining personal information from them, the inmates would send naked images of the person they were impersonating (images which were also found online) and request that the targets provide nude images. The inmates would then call the targets impersonating the father of the person the targets were in contact with (i.e., the women in the profile). The inmates would proceed to misinform the targets that they were communicating with a minor and that what the targets had in their possession (i.e., the naked image) was considered child sexual abuse material. The inmates would then threaten to contact the authorities and report the individuals if money was not paid to the “victim”. The targets were directed to pay these fees using wire transfers via Western Union, MoneyGram, Walmart, and PayPal. The inmates recruited money mules, who received the wire transfers from the military members and would then send the funds to the inmates as directed.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion, and money laundering. Several of the defendants pled guilty. Specifically, Tiffany Reed pled guilty and was sentenced to three years’ probation for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Another defendant, Wendell Wilkins, also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, but has yet to be sentenced. Jalisa Thompson, Brandon Thompson pled guilty to money laundering and were sentenced to time served and 15 months’ imprisonment, respectively. The prosecution also submitted a motion to dismiss the indictment against one of the defendants, namely, Laben McCoy. This case involves five of the total of fifteen defendants tried in relation to the scheme.
18 U.S.C §§ 1343 and 1349
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1951
Interference with commerce by threats or violence
18 U.S.C. § 1956
Laundering of monetary instruments
18 U.S.C §§ 1343 and 1349
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1956
Laundering of monetary instruments
The defendant was sentenced to time served with supervised release after imprisonment for 3 years.
The defendant was ordered to pay USD 31,972.19 to the victims, which is to be paid with the co-defendant Wendall Wilkins, whose sentence is still pending at the time of writing.
The defendant was order to pay USD 100.00 as special assessment fee to the state.
18 U.S.C §§ 1343 and 1349
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1956
Laundering monetary instruments
The defendant was sentenced to a prison term of three years on probation.
The defendant was ordered to pay USD 4,516.38 to the victims, which is to be paid with the co-defendant Wendall Wilkins, whose sentence is still pending at the time of writing.
The defendant was order to pay USD 100.00 as special assessment fee to the state.
18 U.S.C. § 1956
Laundering of monetary instruments
The defendant was sentenced to a prison term of 15 months with supervised release after imprisonment for 3 years.
The defendant was ordered to pay USD 15,831.54 to the victims, which is to be paid with the co-defendant Wendall Wilkins, whose sentence is still pending at the time of writing.
The defendant was order to pay USD 100.00 as special assessment fee to the state.
18 U.S.C. § 1956
Laundering of monetary instruments
U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
United States of America v. Wendell Wilkins, Jalisa Thompson, Tiffany Reed, Brandon Thompson, Laben McCoy, No. 2-18-CR-101 (D.S.C. Nov. 14, 2018)
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina, “Two Money Mules Plead Guilty in Federal Court for Role in Sextortion Scheme” 31 July 2019.
This case identified a sextortion scheme run within a prison in the United States. There were several co-conspirators (beyond the defendants). Others involved in the sextortion scheme were separately charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and/or money laundering.