Ex-Coach Steve Waithe Faces Extortion Charges

Steve Waithe, 28, a former college track and field coach, has been indicted on federal charges of wire fraud, cyberstalking, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and computer fraud aiding and abetting. According to the Department of Justice, Waithe used more than a dozen fake social media and email accounts to dupe women into sending him nude or semi-nude photos. The scheme involved posing as a coach conducting athlete research studies.

Waithe is accused of creating at least two female personas, “Katie Janovich” and “Kathryn Svoboda,” to trick victims into providing their personal information and images. He also cyberstalked one victim by hacking her Snapchat account and sending nude photos to her boyfriend, threatening a leak if he did not assist.

The indictment states that Waithe requested nude or semi-nude photos from victims under the guise of body development studies, offering to remove compromising photos from the internet in return. Over 350 photos were sent by over 49 victims who believed they were participating in legitimate research.

Waithe was arrested on April 7, 2021, and will appear in federal court in Boston on December 9, 2021. The charges carry significant penalties, including lengthy prison sentences if he is convicted.

The allegations against Waithe highlight the increasing prevalence of cyberstalking and online harassment, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and legal action to protect victims from such crimes.

Steve Waithe’s alleged actions have caused shockwaves in the athletic community, prompting calls for increased awareness and stricter measures against predators who use technology to exploit their victims.