'Sextortion' Attempts Against Tampa Bay Women Land Man In Prison

TAMPA, FL — A 35-year-old Hicksville, New York man will spend 15 years in federal prison for cyberstalking six Tampa Bay women.

Christopher Buonocore pleaded guilty in January on charges that he used fake phone numbers, text messages and social media to harass, intimidate, cyberstalk and attempt to extort six women, including a minor, over a period of seven years.

In addition to the prison sentence, Buonocore has been ordered to pay $164,295 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, Buonocore’s harassment campaign involved posting thousands of sexually explicit and nude images of the victims to the internet, as well as the victims’ personal identifying information, including phone numbers, addresses and social media account identifiers.

Buonocore also encouraged people on the internet to contact and harass the victims, including attempting to extort additional sexually explicit images from them (referred to as “sextortion”), according to authorities. He also encouraged people to rape on the victims, authorities said.

“The victims in this case did not let fear silence them," said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson. "They courageously came forward and worked with law enforcement to help bring this individual’s campaign of torment and terror to an end. The FBI urges any victim of online threats to report the crime. We have the resources and the commitment to investigate these cowardly acts."

Sextortion is when someone threatens to distribute another person’s private and sensitive material unless she provides the harasser with sexually explicit images, sexual favors or money. The harasser may also threaten to harm the victim’s friends or relatives by using information they have obtained from the victim’s electronic devices unless the victim complies with his demands.

Anyone who has been the victim of cyberstalking or sextortion should contact the FBI at 800-CALL FBI (225-5324).