Christopher Buonocore Gets 15 Years for Cyberstalking, Sextortion

Christopher Buonocore, 35, of Hicksville, New York, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after a relentless, seven-year campaign of cyberstalking and sextortion that terrorized six women across the country — including a minor. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber in Tampa, Florida, marks the end of a digital nightmare fueled by lies, threats, and the weaponization of intimate images.

Buonocore pleaded guilty in January 2021 to orchestrating a sprawling online harassment scheme using fake phone numbers, burner social media accounts, and mass distribution of nude and sexually explicit images of his victims. He didn’t just expose their bodies — he exposed their lives, dumping personal information including phone numbers, home addresses, and social media logins across multiple platforms, turning their private worlds into public battlegrounds.

Worse, Buonocore didn’t act alone. He recruited strangers online to join his crusade — instructing them to contact, harass, and even attempt to rape his victims. He directed others to extort more explicit images from the women, a tactic known as ‘sextortion,’ leveraging fear, shame, and psychological control. The campaign was systematic, cold, and unrelenting — even after victims confronted him and revealed the emotional devastation he caused.

Despite knowing the damage — the sleepless nights, the panic attacks, the shattered trust — Buonocore didn’t stop. He doubled down. Over years, he flooded the internet with private content, weaponizing technology to inflict maximum harm. The court ordered him to pay $164,295.01 in restitution, a figure reflecting the financial and emotional toll on his victims, though no amount can erase the trauma.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell. Authorities stress that cyberstalking and sextortion are not ‘cyber’ in the sense of being virtual or harmless — they are violent, criminal acts with real-world consequences. Victims are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit fbi.gov for help. Your identity can be protected. Your voice matters.