Ghana National Sentenced In 2022 Sextortion Scheme

Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 7:00 A.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BUFFALO, NY.- On Monday, a 21-year-old Ghana national found out he will be heading back to Ghana after being sentenced to time served in connection with a social media sextortion scheme.

     According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, on Monday, December 22, 2025, Cross Abu Cole, 21, of Ghana, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to time served, seven months following his conviction on the charge of Interstate Communication with Intent to Extort.

     Following handing down the sentence, Judge Vilardo ordered Cole to be turned over to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

According To Court Documents

     According to documents filed with the District Court, on October 30, 2022, Cole improperly accessed an individual’s Snapchat Instant Messenger account and obtained nude photographs that the individual stored on the account. Cole then sent a text message to the individual utilizing a Google Voice overlay telephone number, demanding payment of $200. Cole said that if the payment was not made, he would damage the individual’s reputation by releasing the nude photographs to the individual’s family and friends.

     The individual made a payment of $200 via CashApp as instructed by Cole, but then cancelled the payment. Shortly thereafter, the individual learned that some of his Snapchat contacts had received the nude photographs.

     U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which resulted in Cole’s apprehension, conviction, and sentence.