Lebanon Man Jailed 18 Months for Online Extortion Scam

A Lebanon County man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a brazen online extortion scheme.

John Anthony Zayas, 35, of Lebanon, was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo after he pleaded guilty to extortion by interstate communication.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Zayas demanded $150,000 from a victim in the fall of 2022, threatening to publicly release intimate photos and images unless the payment was made.

Despite Zayas’s request for house arrest, Judge Rambo rejected the plea and ordered the defendant to report to prison in June 2024.

Zayas was also ordered to pay $850 in fines and assessments, and to serve one year of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.

Zayas’s conviction marks another high-profile cybercrime case in Pennsylvania, highlighting the need for vigilance and caution when interacting online.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office warns that extortion schemes like Zayas’s can have devastating consequences for victims, and encourages anyone who may be targeted by such a scheme to come forward and report it to law enforcement immediately.

As the investigation into Zayas’s activities continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the prosecution of cybercrime.