David Ryan Winters, Cyberstalking, North Carolina 2024

A Durham man has been charged with cyberstalking five victims, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. According to a federal indictment, David Ryan Winters, 38, sent electronic and text messages to the victims and people close to them, attempting to intimidate and harass them.

The indictment alleges that Winters targeted the victims due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. If convicted on all counts, Winters faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The charges are a result of the work of the Civil Rights Team, launched by U.S. Attorney Michael Easley in 2022. The team prioritizes the investigation and prosecution of civil and criminal cases involving civil rights, including gender or sexual identification, religion, race, and national origin. In 2023, the office added two new dedicated civil rights prosecutors to the team.

Earlier this month, an Alabama man was indicted for cyberstalking a local woman allegedly targeting her because of her sexual orientation. In May, a California man was arrested after making threats targeting multiple entities and individuals, including an elected official, members of law enforcement, and several synagogues located in North Carolina.

“Everybody has an equal right to live, work, worship, and love in America,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We won’t tolerate those who threaten, stalk, or use violence just because they don’t like how somebody else lives. Everybody is treated equally and fairly under the law and we won’t normalize violence and intimidation. Our Civil Rights Team is squaring off against threats and hate-fueled violence of any kind and not slowing down.”

Winters is being investigated by the Raleigh and Durham Police Departments, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel is prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is a victim of cyberstalking, you are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement or the FBI.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The exact date of the crime is unknown, but the indictment alleges that the harassment began in 2016 and continued through this year.

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