HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (WCBS 880) -- A Long Island man will spend 15 years in federal prison for cyberstalking multiple people over a seven-year period.
Christopher Buonocore, 35, of Hicksville, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking earlier this year, and has been ordered to pay over $164,000 in restitution to his victims along with his sentence.
According to court docs, Buonocore used fake phone numbers, text messages and social media accounts to harass, intimidate and attempt to sextort six women, one of whom was a minor.
Buonocore's threats involved posting thousands of sexually explicit images of his victims, as well as their personal information, officials said.
He also had people online contact and harass the women, and even had people try to extort additional sexual images or encourage them to rape the victims.
During the multiyear period, some victims found out that Buonocore was behind the harassment, and confronted him. But even after that, he continued his actions.
“The victims in this case did not let fear silence them. They courageously came forward and worked with law enforcement to help bring this individual’s campaign of torment and terror to an end,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.
Sextortion occurs when a person threatens to distribute someone else’s private materials if they don’t provide sexual images, favors or money, officials explained. They also might threaten the victim’s loved ones.