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Defendant’s Guilty Plea in Disturbing Case of Sex Abuse and Blackmail
A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to a heinous crime that has left a woman shaken and seeking justice. Steven B. Fabrizio, 57, of Chevy Chase, Md., pleaded guilty to one count each of blackmail and third-degree sexual abuse in a Washington D.C. court. The charges carry a statutory maximum of five years in prison on the blackmail charge and up to 10 years on the sexual abuse charge.
The victim met Fabrizio through a dating website in August 2019. After a consensual sexual encounter, Fabrizio blackmailed her, threatening to reveal their arrangement to her employer, parents, and landlord unless she continued to see him. The woman, fearing repercussions, agreed to see him again, but during their second encounter, Fabrizio sexually abused her.
Fabrizio continued to blackmail the woman, sending her threatening texts, until she contacted the Metropolitan Police Department. He was arrested on August 21, 2019, and has been in custody ever since.
Fabrizio’s guilty plea is a significant step towards justice for the victim. The court has ordered him to register as a sex offender for 10 years, a requirement that will likely have far-reaching consequences for his personal and professional life.
Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips commended the investigators from the MPD’s Sexual Assault Unit and the prosecutors who handled the case. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed relief that the case is moving forward.
Fabrizio is set to be sentenced on October 29, 2021, by the Honorable Marisa Demeo in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. As the community awaits the sentencing, it is a stark reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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