Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that DAVID JONES was sentenced by United States District Judge Nelson S. Román to 30 months in prison for his participation in a scheme by which he and others fraudulently convinced users of a dating website into believing that they had sent sexually explicit images to underage children and faced criminal prosecution if they did not pay to avoid involvement by law enforcement.  JONES previously pled guilty on May 14, 2019.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “David Jones scared his victims into sending him money by fraudulently convincing victims they were in peril of criminal prosecution for child exploitation.  In the end, this cruel and temporarily profitable scheme by Jones earned him a prison term and surrender of his ill-gotten gains.” 

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:

Beginning in August 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) began identifying various individuals who reported that they had been extorted after using a dating website (the “Website”).  In general, each victim reported communicating on the Website with an individual the victim believed was an adult.  Then, after the victim received and shared sexually-explicit photos with the person the victim believed was an adult, the victim was contacted by a person who claimed that the victim had communicated with an underage minor and needed to pay the minor’s family to prevent law enforcement involvement.  The victims made payments via money transfers through Western Union and Walmart and/or through the purchase of Green Dot MoneyPak cards.

In total, at least 28 victims of the criminal scheme were identified.  Together, those victims paid over $40,000 to DAVID JONES and his co-conspirators.  The victims were located in numerous states including Florida, Montana, Tennessee, Arizona, and New York.  In connection with the scheme, DAVID JONES and his co-conspirators made phone calls from South Carolina to Mahopac, New York.        

Mr. Berman praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Department of Corrections - Police Services Unit, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in connection with this investigation.

Judge Román ordered that the 30-month term of imprisonment run consecutive to the sentence JONES is currently serving in South Carolina.  In addition, he imposed a period of supervised release of three years to follow the imprisonment, and ordered forfeiture in the amount of $27,066 and restitution in the amount of $41,459.51.                     

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the filing of charges against DAVID JONES, DAVID DUWAYNE TAYLOR, KRISTIN KNIGHT, and DESTINY BISHOP for engaging in a scheme by which they fraudulently duped their victims into believing that they had sent sexually explicit images to underage children and faced criminal prosecution if they did not pay to avoid involvement by law enforcement. 

TAYLOR, KNIGHT, and BISHOP were presented in federal court in South Carolina on October 18 and 19, 2018.  BISHOP was presented on Friday, October 26, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison in White Plains federal court and released on a personal recognizance bond.  KNIGHT was presented on October 29, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy in White Plains federal court and released on a personal recognizance bond.  JONES was presented this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.  TAYLOR is expected to appear in federal court in White Plains in the next several days.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants scared their victims into sending them money by fraudulently convincing them they were in peril of criminal prosecution for child exploitation.  This alleged fraud was not only cruel, it was also profitable for the defendants – until they were arrested.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “These individuals allegedly chose their targets specifically to create vulnerabilities, seeking simply to make a profit through deceit and extortion.  Anyone can fall victim to a criminal scheme, so it is important to remain diligent in text messaging and online communications, and to contact law enforcement if criminal activity is suspected.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed October 18, 2018, in White Plains federal court[1]:

Beginning in August 2017, HSI began identifying various individuals who reported that they had been extorted after using a dating website (the “Website”).  In general, each victim reported communicating on the Website with an individual the victim believed was an adult.  Then, after the victim received and shared sexually-explicit photos with the person the victim believed was an adult, the victim was contacted by a person who claimed that the victim had communicated with an underage minor and needed to pay the minor’s family to prevent law enforcement involvement.  The victims made payments via money transfers through Western Union and Walmart and/or through the purchase of Green Dot MoneyPak cards.

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JONES, 28, of Greenville, South Carolina, TAYLOR, 28, of Easley, South Carolina, KNIGHT, 28, of Greer, South Carolina, and BISHOP, 21, of Greenville, South Carolina, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations; the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Police Services Unit; and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in connection with this investigation.

Mr. Berman stated that the investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations at 866-DHS-2-ICE.                        

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.  

 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, as well as the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.