TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A Chicago man was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a nationwide Snapchat phishing scheme targeting college-aged women.
Joseph Alexander Valdez, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of stalking in connection with his phishing scheme. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“The defendant’s calculated invasion of the victims’ privacy is both despicable and illegal,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Moreover, his attempts to shame, taunt, and in some instances extort his victims, demonstrate his predatory nature and desire to inflict harm. This sentence rightly punishes the defendant and should serve as a significant deterrent to others. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to identify and aggressively prosecute acts of online exploitation.”
Court documents reflect that between June 2021, and December 2022, Valdez identified college-aged females located throughout the United States—including two students at Florida State University and one student at the University of Florida—to deceive them into providing their Snapchat passwords.
Once he accessed the victims’ Snapchat accounts, Valdez took screenshots of the victims’ subscriber information—such as their name, phone number, email address—and downloaded their saved photographs, including private, nude photographs. In other instances, Valdez communicated in online chatrooms and forums with other individuals who used a similar scheme to unlawfully obtain the victims’ private, nude photographs stored on the victims’ Snapchat accounts and other social media platforms.
Valdez’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution to the victims. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case.
Defendant: Joseph Alexander Valdez, Real full name: Joseph Alexander Valdez, Exact criminal charges: Wire fraud, Aggravated identity theft, Stalking, City and state: Tallahassee, Florida, Exact date: Not specified, Sentence or outcome: 96 months in federal prison, Dollar amounts: Not specified.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
CybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrime