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Prison inmates charged with running “sextortion ring” targeting U.S. military members

Posted at 8:15 AM, Nov 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-29 10:32:09-05

(WIS) A total of 15 prison inmates in North and South Carolina have been indicted on charges that they took part in a “sextortion” ring targeting U.S. military members.

The two-year, multi-state investigation, dubbed “Operation: Surprise Party” alleges that 15 people inside and outside of the Department of Corrections used contraband cellphones to extort more than 400 service members through online dating websites posing as young women.

When the inmate would begin an online relationship with the service member, U.S. District Attorney Sherri Lydon says inmates would send nude photos of a woman and ask for nudes in return.

Once the service member sent their nude photos, the inmate would pose as the young woman’s father and demand money in exchange for not being reported to officers for having nude photos of an underaged woman.

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