Citizen of Ghana sentenced on extortion charge
BUFFALO, N.Y. / Monday, December 22, 2025 -U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Cross Abu Cole, 21, a citizen of Ghana, who was convicted of interstate communications with intent to extort, was sentenced to time served (approximately seven months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and turned over to the Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on October 30, 2022, Cole improperly accessed an individual’s (Victim) Snapchat account and obtained nude photographs that the Victim had stored in his Snapchat account. Cole sent a text message to the Victim, utilizing a Google Voice telephone number, demanding payment of $200. If payment was not made, Cole threatened to damage the reputation of the Victim by releasing the nude photographs to family and friends of the Victim. An initial payment of $200 via CashApp was made by the Victim as instructed but then he cancelled the payment. Subsequently, the Victim learned that some of his Snapchat contacts had received the nude photographs.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Contact
Barbara Burns
716-843-5817
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
