A South Bay man has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking multiple young women in a sextortion campaign he waged while an active-duty member of the US Marine Corps.
Johao Miguel Chavarri, 25, of Torrance, pleaded guilty to three counts of cyberstalking. Chavarri, also known as ‘Michael Frito,’ used various online platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, to contact his victims.
He would compliment their appearance and suggest a relationship where he would pay them to send him photos or videos. Some victims initially agreed, but when they refused to continue communicating or refused his requests for explicit content, Chavarri began to harass, threaten, and extort them.
Chavarri threatened to publish explicit photos and videos online or distribute them to the victims’ loved ones. He also threatened to ruin their lives.
Chavarri’s victims were stalked and threatened from May 2019 to February 2021. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong has scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 15, where Chavarri could face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
The FBI is urging anyone who believes they are a victim in this case or knows of a victim to contact the Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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