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'Callous Predator' Who Sextorted 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced To Life In Prison 'Callous Predator' Who Sextorted 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced To Life In Prison
'Callous Predator' Who Sextorted 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced To Life In Prison A convicted child predator from New York was sentenced to life in prison for posing as a teenager in order to sexually extort a 13-year-old New Jersey girl. Zachary Williams, 37, of New York City, learned his fate in Camden federal court on Tuesday, March 18, following convictions for interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and related charges. After a nearly two-week trial, jurors concluded that Williams met the 13-year-old victim on Snapchat and pretended to be 17 years old. In reality, he was 33 at the time. Williams asked the girl to send him nude photos of …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Don't Fall For This Fake Email Scam, Feds Warn Don't Fall For This Fake Email Scam, Feds Warn
Don't Fall For This Fake Email Scam, Feds Warn A new scam is targeting people with a fake email and officials are urging the public to stay vigilant. The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has issued the warning about fraudulent emails impersonating the agency.  These emails, which carry the subject line “Claim Benefits!”, falsely claim that recipients must apply for their 2025 Social Security benefits through a provided link. How Scam Works The scam email appears to come from SSA and directs users to a fake website disguised to look like SSA’s official page. However, clicking on the link l…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Delete These Suspicious Texts Immediately, FBI Warns Delete These Suspicious Texts Immediately, FBI Warns
Delete These Suspicious Texts Immediately, FBI Warns The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued an urgent warning about a widespread text message scam designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims. Known as “smishing” (SMS phishing), the scam involves fraudulent texts impersonating toll and package delivery services to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or revealing sensitive data. According to cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, cybercriminals have registered over 10,000 fraudulent domains as part of this operation, targeting at least 11 states and one Canadian province. Key…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Child Sex Abuse Sting Operation In Rockland County Leads To Arrest: DA Child Sex Abuse Sting Operation In Rockland County Leads To Arrest: DA
Child Sex Abuse Sting Operation In Rockland County Leads To Arrest: DA A sting operation by the Rockland County District Attorney's Office led to the arrest of a Queens man caught in the trap. Jose Quizhpi, age 48, was indicted on Tuesday, Jan. 14, by a Rockland County grand jury on eight counts of attempted disseminating indecent materials, two counts of attempted rape, and other charges. Scott Waters, spokesman for the Rockland District Attorney's Office, said that between Nov. 5 and 17, 2024, Quizhpi exchanged numerous text messages, photographs, and videos, which were sexually explicit in nature, with a girl who he met online and whom he bel…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Sibling Sextortion: NY Child Abuser Had Help From Sister In Cyberstalking Scheme, Feds Say Sibling Sextortion: NY Child Abuser Had Help From Sister In Cyberstalking Scheme, Feds Say
Sibling Sextortion: NY Child Abuser Had Help From Sister In Cyberstalking Scheme, Feds Say A New York brother currently serving time in federal prison and sister are facing federal charges for an elaborate cyberstalking and extortion scheme involving explicit images and a fraudulent life insurance plot, federal authorities announced. Fred Mastroianni, of White Plains, and Doreen Mastroianni, of Yorktown Heights, have been charged with cyberstalking, extortion, and conspiracy to commit extortion, according to an indictment unsealed by federal officials. The pair allegedly targeted "Victim-1" by threatening to release sexually explicit photos and videos unless the victim complied w…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Sex Extortion Scam Circulating Through Emails In Region, Sheriff Says Sex Extortion Scam Circulating Through Emails In Region, Sheriff Says
Sex Extortion Scam Circulating Through Emails In Region, Sheriff Says Police in the region are warning of an automated sex extortion scam that is targeting residents through emails. Undersheriff Eric Chaboy of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office said that scammers are acquiring emails and personal information on the so-called “Dark Web” and feeding it into what appears to be an artificial intelligence (AI) program that automatically contacts potential victims. Earlier report - Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know According to Chaboty, the program claims in an email that the victim has been looking at pornogra…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Ex-School Counselor In Capital Region Filmed Sexually Explicit Content Of Child For Years Ex-School Counselor In Capital Region Filmed Sexually Explicit Content Of Child For Years
Ex-School Counselor In Capital Region Filmed Sexually Explicit Content Of Child For Years A former middle school guidance counselor in the region confessed to repeatedly taking sexually explicit photos of a child beginning when the victim was just 9 years old. Albany County resident Kristy Koldis, age 46, of Latham, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in Albany federal court on Monday, June 3. Koldis, a former counselor at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School in Albany and professor at Russell Sage College in Troy, admitted that she repeatedly took sexually explicit content depicting the victim’s genitals. The abuse continued until the child was 13. Earli…

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by Michael Mashburn