BUFFALO, N.Y. — Federal authorities have charged Ghanaian citizen Cross Abu Cole, 21, with interstate communication with intent to extort, following a disturbing scheme involving nude images, one reportedly depicting a victim as a minor. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo after Cole’s arrest upon arrival in Houston, Texas.
Cole appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer in Buffalo, where he was ordered detained pending further proceedings. The charge carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, prosecuting the case, described a series of events that began in October 2022. A victim contacted the FBI, reporting threats received via text message demanding $200 be sent to a CashApp account labeled “$zettsa.” The sender allegedly threatened to distribute nude images—including one from the victim’s minor years—to their Snapchat contacts if the demand was ignored.
Shortly thereafter, the victim received two explicit photographs: one of themselves as a minor, and another depicting a friend, both believed to have originated from the victim’s own Snapchat account. Although the victim initially complied by sending the payment, the transaction was later voided following consultation with a parent. Threatening messages continued unabated from the same telephone number.
The investigation revealed that several of the victim’s Snapchat contacts had, in fact, received the explicit content from a secondary Snapchat account. Authorities traced the breach to the victim’s Yahoo account—linked to their Snapchat profile—which had previously been compromised. FBI agents ultimately linked the threatening communications to Cole, leading to his arrest.
The case remains under active investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.
As with all criminal complaints, the charges against Cross Abu Cole are allegations. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: FBI
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