COLUMBUS, Ohio — Omoruyi O. Uwadiae, a 29-year-old from Columbus, was sentenced to 51 months in prison on Monday for a series of crimes involving the harassment, cyberstalking, extortion, and identity theft of victims across multiple states.
Uwadiae specifically targeted gay and bisexual men, exploiting them through platforms like Grindr. According to court documents, he obtained sexually explicit content from his victims under false pretenses and then used it to blackmail them. “He preyed on individuals who trusted him, turning their privacy into a weapon against them,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker during the sentencing.
The crimes, which spanned several months in 2019, included threats to distribute the victims’ explicit images to their personal contacts, employers, and on public websites unless they complied with his demands for money or sexual acts. “He not only invaded their privacy but also forced them into situations that could alter their lives permanently,” added Parker.
One notable case involved a student at The Ohio State University, who was threatened by Uwadiae after refusing to pay $200 or engage in sexual acts. Uwadiae retaliated by creating false social media accounts that outed the student’s sexual orientation, which he had kept private. “This was not just about extortion; it was about power,” said the victim’s statement read in court.
Another victim was a minor at the time of the crimes, whose age Uwadiae acknowledged but continued to exploit anyway. “Even knowing the victim was underage, he persisted in his cruel actions,” noted FBI Special Agent in Charge, Angela M. Byers.
Uwadiae pleaded guilty to 22 counts, including cyberstalking, extortion, and identity theft, in the Southern District of Ohio in May. His actions led to significant emotional distress among his victims, many of whom had not disclosed their sexual orientation publicly.
The sentencing was described by