FBI Shuts Down Global ‘Sextortion’ Ring After Teen’s Tragic Suicide

For Pauline Stuart, the news was almost unbelievable: the man believed responsible for her teenage son’s death is finally behind bars.

“It still feels unreal,” she told CNN. “I thought it would never happen, but law enforcement never gave up.”

The suspect, Alfred Kassi, was arrested in Côte d’Ivoire — thousands of miles from the Northern California home where her 17-year-old son, Ryan Last, took his own life in 2022. Alongside three accomplices, Kassi is charged in connection with an international sextortion scheme targeting thousands, including minors across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Spain, and Italy.

What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is a dangerous online scam where perpetrators trick victims—often children—into sending explicit images, then demand money or more photos under threat of exposing those images to family or friends.

In Ryan’s case, it began with a message from someone pretending to be a girl. Within hours, a nightmare unfolded.

A Teen’s Final Hours

Ryan, a straight-A student and Boy Scout, received the message on a school night in February 2022. The scammer sent him a nude photo, then pressured him for one in return. After Ryan complied, they demanded $5,000 — threatening to share the image publicly if he didn’t pay.

Unable to meet the demand, Ryan’s family savings were drained as the extortionists continued to push for more money.

By 2 a.m., just hours after saying goodnight to his mom, Ryan tragically ended his life. His suicide note revealed his overwhelming fear and embarrassment.

“He truly believed there was no way out if those pictures were shared,” Stuart said. “No child should ever be that scared.”

A Growing Crisis

The FBI and other U.S. agencies have reported a sharp rise in sextortion cases, prompting nationwide warnings to parents.

Experts say teens are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing, making it hard to see beyond immediate crises.

Dr. Scott Hadland of Mass General for Children explains, “When something catastrophic like this happens, teens struggle to imagine things getting better.”

Protecting Teens Online

Hadland urges parents to stay involved in their kids’ online lives—know who they talk to, what platforms they use, and watch for signs of pressure to share personal info or photos.

Crucially, he advises parents to approach the subject without judgment. “Make sure your teens know they can talk to you if they make a mistake or feel scared.”

Pauline Stuart agrees. “We need to talk openly with our kids and make them aware of these dangers.”

Justice and Cooperation

Kassi and his accomplices will face prosecution in Côte d’Ivoire, where they were arrested. The country doesn’t extradite its citizens, but authorities there have cybercrime laws that apply.

The FBI investigation was aided by San Jose police, the U.S. State Department, and Meta (Facebook’s parent company), which provided key information to identify the suspects.

The Justice Department noted that Kassi still had sextortion messages sent to Ryan on his phone at the time of arrest, underscoring the ongoing threat these criminals posed.