Crime & Safety
Seekonk 'Sextortionist' David Ackell Guilty
David Ackell, of Seekonk, was convicted of stalking after obtaining nude photos of a woman and threatening to publicly post them.
SEEKONK, MA — A Seekonk man on Friday was found guilty of obtaining nude photos of a woman and threatening to publicly post them in an act of blackmail. David Ackell, 48, was convicted of interstate stalking by a jury in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire. The victim in the case is from Hancock, New Hampshire, according to authorities.
"In 2013, Ackell and the victim met through social media and developed an online relationship," U.S. Attorney Emily Rice said in a statement. "In the course of that relationship, Ackell coerced the victim into sending him nude photographs of herself and then threatened to harm her by publicly disseminating the images to family and friends."
Authorities said it was a case of "sextortion."
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Ackell will be sentenced April 11. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was released from custody with conditions pending the hearing.
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