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Tennessee Man Arrested for Snapchat Extortion Scheme
Knoxville, Tenn. – A Sweetwater resident has been arrested and charged with intent to extort money and other things of value from a female victim through a Snapchat communication which threatened to injure her reputation.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Brandon Douglas Shanahan, 22, was arrested on May 24, 2016, and charged with intent to extort money and other things of value. The investigation revealed that Shanahan had conversed with the female victim using the name ‘Camsutton2323,’ which was a false identity claiming to be Cameron Sutton, a University of Tennessee football player.
The victim believed she was communicating with Sutton, but the investigation showed that Sutton himself was a victim of criminal impersonation. Sutton had not conversed with the victim via Snapchat or any other method of communication and had no knowledge of Shanahan’s impersonation of him.
Shanahan had his initial appearance on May 25, 2016, before the Honorable Dennis Inman, U.S. Magistrate Judge, and pleaded not guilty. He was released on bond pending his next court appearance in the case.
If convicted, Shanahan faces a maximum of two years in prison.
The investigation indicates that there may have been numerous other female victims who have been contacted by Shanahan. The FBI is urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of extortion by Shanahan to contact the FBI office at 865-744-0751.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force, consisting of members of the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of Tennessee Police Department, with the assistance of the Sweetwater Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Davidson represents the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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