Jeffery Ray Ward Sentenced for Cyberstalking Ex

Jeffery Ray Ward, 41, of Anchorage, Alaska, is headed to federal prison for 40 months after being convicted of cyberstalking his former girlfriend — a campaign of digital terror launched while he was already under court order to stay away from her. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, includes an additional three years of supervised release and marks a rare federal prosecution in a domestic cyber abuse case.

Ward pleaded guilty on September 27, 2017, to one count of cyberstalking in violation of a domestic violence protective order. The charges stem from a relentless online assault in April 2017, when Ward, already facing municipal charges for physically assaulting the same victim, broke his no-contact order by weaponizing her digital identity. He hacked into her social media accounts and posted explicit nude photos — exposing her to hundreds of friends and family members.

According to court documents, the victim called 911 on April 16, 2017, after discovering the posts. An automated alert from the social media platform confirmed her worst fears: her email had been changed to one controlled by Ward, locking her out permanently. Not only did he broadcast her private images, he impersonated her in direct messages, sending sexually explicit content to her former boyfriend — a calculated act of humiliation and control.

Judge Burgess didn’t mince words at sentencing. ‘To call this a serious crime is an understatement,’ he said, adding he was ‘concerned about protecting other women’ from Ward, who has a documented history of domestic violence in Alaska and other jurisdictions. The court emphasized the escalating danger posed by abusers who exploit technology to stalk and terrorize.

U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder underscored the federal office’s commitment to prosecuting domestic violence, particularly when it crosses into cyber-enabled crimes. ‘While a significant amount of our efforts go toward drug trafficking related and firearms based violent crime, domestic violence is an insidious threat to Alaskan families,’ Schroder said. ‘Where appropriate, we will bring charges to hold domestic abusers accountable.’

The investigation was led by the Anchorage Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit, with support from the Municipality of Anchorage Prosecutor’s Office. APD Cyber Crimes Lieutenant Josh Nolder affirmed the department’s resolve: ‘APD Cyber Detectives work diligently to ensure the safety of all Anchorage residents online. We are pleased to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s office to prosecute Mr. Ward.’ Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander handled the prosecution.