Prisoner extorts woman from behind bars: 12-year sentence for systematic blackmail
A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after extorting €34,000 (approx. 666,400 MDL) from a woman over a six-year period. The defendant used sexually explicit images to blackmail the victim, even forcing her to purchase a vehicle for him following his release from a previous jail term.
The scheme began in 2015 while the man was serving time in a Moldovan penitentiary. Using a fraudulent social media profile, he cultivated a relationship with the victim to gain her trust. Once he obtained intimate photos and videos, he launched a systematic blackmail campaign that lasted until 2021.
The victim, a Moldovan national living in Italy, succumbed to the pressure to prevent the images from being leaked. She performed 93 separate bank transfers to various beneficiaries designated by the extortionist.
Escalation after release
Upon his release from prison in 2021, the harassment escalated. The convict coerced the woman into financing a car for his personal use. While the victim paid the initial installment and took on a debt of approximately €5,100 (100,000 MDL), the defendant took possession of the vehicle.
The defendant partially admitted his guilt during the investigation but failed to appear for the final court hearings. He has been declared a fugitive, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
