Four Ivorian men have been detained for their roles in a global "sextortion" ring that's linked to the tragic suicide of a California teen. The scheme involved thousands of victims, including minors, across multiple countries. In a heartbreaking incident, Ryan Last, a 17-year-old from San Jose, tragically took his own life in February 2022 after getting sextorted by someone masquerading as a 20-year-old woman.
This collaborative bust was pulled off with efforts from U.S. and Ivorian authorities, who managed to track down Alfred Kassi in Côte d'Ivoire, allegedly the quintessential impersonator who targeted Last. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, on the day of his capture, Kassi is said to have still had the sextortion messages to Last on his phone.
But Kassi didn't act alone, as the investigation revealed. It also implicated accomplices involved in laundering the extorted funds. Notably, Oumarou Ouedraogo and two other network members, Moussa Diaby and Oumar Cisse, were apprehended by Ivorian law enforcement on similar charges. Back in the States, Jonathan Kassi (not related to Alfred Kassi) was sentenced in 2023 by a California State Court.
Ivorian laws don't allow the extradition of their citizens, so the suspects face local prosecution under their cybercrime laws. "The FBI is investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the San Jose Police Department, the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, and Meta," as the Justice Department's announcement disclosed. The notable teamwork doesn't end there – the Anti-Terrorist Operational Intelligence Center (CROAT) of Côte d'Ivoire played a significant role in the investigative phase and the arrests.
