Two more culprits linked to the notorious 2022 sextortion case that led to the untimely death of Ryan Last have been apprehended, according to a collaborative effort featuring the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Ivorian Government. The San José Police Department (SJPD) reported that the male juvenile fell victim to a West African financial sextortion scheme that tragically concluded with his suicide in San José on February 26, 2022.
Previously, in late 2022, Jonathan Kassi was detained in Van Nuys for his role as a middleman in the extortion ring, facilitating the transfer of funds from Ryan Last to entities overseas. The investigation by the SJPD's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force not only led to Kassi's arrest but also spurred a national awareness campaign regarding the severity and prevalence of online sextortion scams. Captured by this relentless chase across digital and physical borders, Ivory Coast authorities arrested Ouedraogo Oumarou on April 26, receiving payments from Kassi that were traced back to the last moments of Ryan Last. Following shortly after, Alfred Kassi was taken into custody on April 29, as the Ivorian Government informed the DOJ CEOS of his central role as the primary online communicator extorting Ryan Last.
San José Police Department Chief of Police Paul Joseph lauded the dedication of the task force in a statement, saying, per the San José Police Department, "Crime knows no boundaries, but that does not stop our Detectives in their efforts and dedication to catching those responsible for exploiting victims, even if they are overseas." Joseph further commended the determination of the SJPD ICAC detectives, whose work with various agencies facilitated international cooperation. The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, led by the SJPD and spanning over 100 Bay Area agencies, has been instrumental in addressing such crimes against children, with their outreach extending beyond investigation to include education and prevention efforts.
In 2024 alone, the task force engaged in an impressive array of activities, receiving over 13,000 CyberTips related to child sexual assault and leading to more than 400 proactive investigations. These efforts resulted in 429 arrests, the rescue of 68 children from ongoing abuse, the identification of 88 child survivors with online sexual abuse material, and upwards of 2,780 forensic digital examinations. Nearly 15% of the arrests made by SVICAC were pivotal in rescuing children from ongoing sexual abuse. The task force also reached out to the community through nearly 1,000 activities, touching the lives of over 16,000 individuals with critical online child safety education. Concerned citizens with information about similar cases are encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant O'Grady by email at [email protected] or by phone at 408-277-3214.
