Federal Indictment Charges South Carolina Duo With Conspiracy To Commit Extortion, Cyberstalking, and Wire Fraud For Scheme That Resulted A Victim's Death

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A federal grand jury in Charlotte has charged Trysten Anthony Cullon, 26, and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 25, both of South Carolina, with conspiracy to commit extortion, cyberstalking, and wire fraud for a scheme to defraud a vulnerable victim and his immediate family members using extortive and threatening text messages, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement.

According to allegations in the indictment, from September 5 to September 8, 2024, the defendants conspired to engage in an extortive and threatening text message conspiracy and a cyberstalking conspiracy that targeted a victim identified in court documents as C.T. The indictment alleges that C.T. had an intellectual disability and was classified as Educable Mentally Disabled. Because of his disability, C.T. was extensively supported by his immediate family and did not live on his own. C.T. was also employed at a fast-food restaurant chain in Charlotte.

The indictment alleges that Cullon and Stone used a stolen phone to send C.T.'s family members multiple harassing and intimidating text messages demanding money and threatened to provide derogatory and embarrassing information to C.T.'s employer, including salacious claims that C.T. was a pervert, that he harassed girls, and that he paid girls for sexual pictures, unless they were paid. Further, the indictment also alleges that Cullon and Stone conspired to defraud C.T. by stealing cellular telephones and other personal items and making and attempting to make transfers using C.T.'s CashApp and PayPal accounts.

The indictment alleges that, as a result of the substantial emotional distress caused by the extortive and threatening text messages sent by the defendants, C.T. committed suicide.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and wire fraud conspiracy, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each offense. They are also charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The charges against Cullon and Stone are allegations, and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.