Arvada police want residents to scroll through their messages, and not just to clear out spam. Detectives say a 25-year-old man is behind an alleged sextortion scheme and are asking anyone who may have crossed digital paths with him to come forward.
The suspect, identified by investigators as David Ajiri of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, self-surrendered earlier this week and was booked on one count of criminal extortion. Authorities say they have released dozens of aliases and social media handles tied to the case and want anyone who may have communicated with those accounts to contact them.
As reported by KDVR, Arvada police said Ajiri turned himself in to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on March 9 after detectives obtained an arrest warrant and was booked on a single count of criminal extortion. Police say investigators believe Ajiri used dating apps, friendship apps and other social platforms to contact and target women and girls, in some cases as young as 14, across the country since at least 2018.
Growing problem across Colorado
State and local reporting shows sextortion and AI-assisted image abuse have surged in recent years, pushing law enforcement and nonprofits to shift resources toward digital prevention and education, according to AI fakes and sextortion scams swarming kids' screens, as per Hoodline. Task forces and victim-support groups say rising CyberTipline reports and financial sextortion tips explain why agencies are asking the public to come forward quickly when they suspect abuse.
What police say about the alleged scheme
Police say the alleged operator convinced victims to send intimate photos or videos in exchange for payment, then threatened to share that material unless victims paid or provided more content. Investigators say he used deception, including fake transaction receipts and, at times, posing as women, and that some material may have been sold online. Arvada police released dozens of aliases and social accounts they believe were used in the scheme, including names such as David Andrews, Dylan Michaels and McKenzie Jensenn and handles like brandoncress87 and dajiri8535, and are asking anyone who communicated with those accounts to call APD at 720-898-7171 and reference case AR25004692, per KDVR.
Legal note
Ajiri was booked on criminal extortion, which under Colorado law covers threats used to obtain money or compel another person to act and is prosecuted as a felony; exact penalties depend on the facts of any conviction. For an overview of the statute and how extortion is treated under state law, see the Colorado code summary available via Justia.
If you think you were targeted
If you believe you were contacted by the accounts listed above, preserve screenshots and original messages, do not pay or continue communicating, and contact investigators. For non-emergencies, Arvada police can be reached at 303-980-7300, and APD provided a tip line for this case at 720-898-7171 (reference AR25004692); if a child may be involved, report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at CyberTipline for takedown assistance and resources. Victims should keep original messages and avoid deleting accounts or content until investigators advise.
Arvada detectives say the investigation remains active and that tips could identify additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to call the Arvada Police Department and to save any evidence for investigators.
