Arrests in West Africa tied to California teen’s death

SAN FRANCISCO — Three years following the tragic suicide of a teenager in California, authorities have made significant headway with the arrest of four individuals in West Africa, alleged to be connected to an “international sextortion scheme,” as detailed by federal investigators.
This unsettling case stems from the 2022 death of Ryan Last, a 17-year-old high school senior, propelling a comprehensive cross-border investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice released a statement on Friday elaborating on these developments.
According to the investigation, Last had engaged in online communication on a Meta platform with an individual he believed was a young woman. This person sent him explicit photographs, prompting the teenager to send back similar images of himself. Subsequently, Last received a blackmail threat. Overcome by fear of having his photos exposed, he tragically ended his own life.
In April, authorities apprehended the alleged blackmailer in Cote d’Ivoire. Reportedly, at the time of his arrest, the suspect’s phone still contained the extortionate messages sent to Last in February 2022, as revealed by the Department of Justice. The San Jose teenager had succumbed to the pressure and sent $150 to his extorter. San Jose is situated about 42 miles southeast of San Francisco.
Additionally, three other individuals in Cote d’Ivoire were detained on charges related to money laundering. The Department of Justice noted that these perpetrators reportedly victimized “thousands” across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Cote d’Ivoire’s laws against extraditing its citizens mean the four suspects will face cybercrime charges within their nation. In a related vein, a fifth suspect apprehended in Los Angeles in December 2022 was found guilty of extortion, receiving a 1 1/2-year jail sentence.
Investigating this case further in the U.S. were the FBI, the San Jose Police Department, and the tech company Meta, which the DOJ commended for supplying crucial data that aided in pinpointing the suspects involved.
Mirroring this case, two Nigerian brothers received sentences in 2024, totaling 17 1/2 years in federal prison, after admitting guilt to charges of sexual extortion targeting teenage boys and young men in the U.S. Among the victims was a 17-year-old from Michigan who, like Last, took his life.