“Reaper” Gets 15 Years for Online Stalking & Child Porn

ROANOKE, VA – Evan Strauss, 26, of Moneta, Virginia, will spend the next 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a horrifying campaign of online stalking and the possession of child pornography. Strauss, who operated under the aliases “Reaper” and “Kobe Deonsons,” was sentenced yesterday for preying on a 17-year-old girl from Wyoming, and for possessing deeply disturbing content.

The Department of Justice detailed a case that began in November 2023 when Strauss connected with the victim, identified as “Minor A,” online. What started as communication quickly devolved into a pattern of relentless harassment, intimidation, and surveillance. Strauss didn’t just threaten; he meticulously researched the victim and her family, gathering personal information to amplify the terror. He threatened to “swat” her home, to harm her family – including her cat – and even to involve social services to remove her sisters.

The level of control Strauss exerted over Minor A is chilling. He demanded she send him nude photos and, unbelievably, directed her to carve his online username, “Reaper,” into her own thigh. Terrified for her family’s safety, the victim complied with his depraved requests. This isn’t an isolated incident, authorities say. Strauss admitted to being an active member of a 200-person online group calling itself the “Community,” and running a subgroup called “Purgatory.” The Community, according to Strauss, routinely engages in swatting, hacking, blackmail, and the exploitation of women and girls.

An FBI search of Strauss’s residence in January 2024 yielded damning evidence: an iPhone containing multiple videos and images of young girls engaged in self-harm and nudity, including photos of Minor A bearing the carved “Reaper” symbol and other self-inflicted wounds. Agents also discovered a surreptitious recording of the victim masturbating with a hairbrush. The FBI’s Richmond Division, leading the investigation, uncovered a network of online predators hiding behind screens, exploiting vulnerable individuals.

“This sentence reflects the serious nature of these crimes and the real danger young people face in today’s online environment,” stated United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert. “Far too often we see young people get involved in an online relationship that quickly leads to bullying, harassment, abuse, and other abhorrent and predatory behavior.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division added, “Predators like Strauss…hide behind their screens, preying on these unsuspecting victims. This sentencing should be a reminder that if you seek to manipulate, threaten, and extort minors you cannot hide.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Scheff prosecuted the case, signaling a continued federal commitment to dismantling these online exploitation networks. While Strauss is behind bars, the investigation remains active, with authorities vowing to identify and prosecute other members of the “Community.” The case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world and the urgent need for vigilance and protection of vulnerable youth.