A member of the U.S. Marshals Service is standing guard outside the Manhattan Federal Court building.
In a case that involved “catfishing” a high-profile CEO, a woman from New York has been sentenced to time already served in jail for cyberstalking. The woman, Sakoya Blackwood, 35, was accused of trying to extort up to $300,000 from the CEO to keep quiet about his sexual escapades and a false claim involving sex with a minor. Prosecutors revealed that Blackwood targeted other wealthy and high-profile men using fake identities as part of her catfishing scheme.
During her sentencing, Blackwood was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release for the attempted extortion, which occurred over a period of six months in 2022. Judge Jesse Furman agreed with recommendations from her lawyers and probation officials.
However, due to her undocumented immigration status (coming to the U.S. from Jamaica as a child), Blackwood faces the risk of being deported and separated from her 12-year-old daughter, according to her lawyer.
The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office had requested a significant term of imprisonment for Blackwood, but the exact length of the sentence is yet to be determined.
Since her arrest last August, Blackwood has been held in a Brooklyn jail after being deemed a flight risk. She pleaded guilty to cyberstalking in March, which led to the dismissal of two other criminal charges: extortion and use of interstate communication with intent to extort.
Prosecutors revealed that Blackwood threatened to falsely accuse the victim of having sex with a minor. They described her behavior as heartless, causing months of fear and suffering for the victim. Blackwood used catfishing techniques, posing as a former romantic partner of the victim and engaging with him in explicit conversations and sharing intimate photos.
She also ramped up the pressure on the victim through Twitter, tweeting veiled threats about a scandal related to him and his company.
The identity of the victim remains confidential, but court filings describe him as a Harvard-educated CEO in his late 60s.
Prosecutors highlighted Blackwood’s sophisticated and devious methods, including the creation of multiple online personas and the use of a Voice over Internet Protocol phone number. They also stated that she obtained the cellphone numbers of the victim, his son, and members of his company’s board of directors, threatening to disclose her false claims to those close to him.
In her defense, Blackwood’s lawyer, Michael Tremonte, explained that she had experienced extreme physical and mental abuse in a previous marriage. He argued that she acted out of fear, vulnerability, and resentment towards her abusers when she sent harassing messages to the CEO. Tremonte emphasized that Blackwood has learned from her poor decisions during her 10 months in jail and deeply regrets her actions.
It is worth noting that Blackwood struggled emotionally during the Covid-19 pandemic and turned to compulsively reading about powerful men who engage in abusive conduct. She began contacting men rumored to be involved in domestic violence, sexual harassment, or sexual assault of minors and others.
These events demonstrate the serious consequences of cyberstalking and the impact it can have on victims’ lives. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of online safety and the need to be cautious when interacting with others on the internet.
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