Sextortion Scam & Teen Suicide: 4 Arrests in West Africa
Arrests Made in Ivory Coast Sextortion Scheme That Led to Teen’s Suicide
Updated June 7, 2025
Four men in ivory Coast have been arrested in connection with an international sextortion scheme that authorities say contributed to the suicide of a California teenager, the U.S.Department of Justice announced. The arrests follow a years-long inquiry into the scheme, which targeted thousands globally, including minors.
Alfred kassi, Oumarou Ouedraogo, Moussa Diaby, and Oumar Cisse face criminal charges in Ivory Coast related to the scheme. They are accused of threatening victims into sending explicit images online. Ryan Last, a 17-year-old from San Jose, Calif.,was among those targeted.
Last, who planned to attend Washington State University, died by suicide in February 2022 after being sextorted by someone posing as a 20-year-old woman, officials said. He had paid $150 to prevent the distribution of intimate photos he sent.
According to the Justice Department, Kassi had messages to Last on his phone demanding payment in exchange for not disseminating Last’s photos at the time of his arrest on April 29.
“We’re feeling grateful that [law enforcement officials] didn’t give up and they continued to work,” Pauline Stuart, Last’s mother, said. “Regrettably it will never bring Ryan back…My son’s still gone, but I’m hoping that, with this arrest, it brings awareness and scares the scammers, because they kind of feel safe over in a foreign country. They don’t think they can be touched.”
The investigation revealed that Ouedraogo allegedly helped Kassi launder the money received from Last. Diaby and Cisse reportedly admitted to their involvement in the sextortion network. Jonathan kassi, a U.S.-based accomplice (not related to Alfred Kassi),was convicted in California in 2023.
Because Ivory Coast does not extradite its citizens,the arrested individuals will be prosecuted there under Ivorian cybercrime laws.
The FBI has reported a critically important increase in financially motivated sextortion incidents involving minors. Between October 2021 and March 2023, over 13,000 reports were filed, involving at least 12,600 victims and 20 suicides.
Sean Ragan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Sacramento Field Office, urged victims to preserve evidence and seek help instantly. “We protect and support victims of sextortion, ensuring they are connected to the resources they need to recover,” Ragan said in a news release.
What’s next
Authorities continue to investigate international sextortion schemes and urge parents to educate their children about online safety and the potential dangers of sharing explicit content online. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to law enforcement.