LOS ANGELES — Police in California have arrested a suspect in connection with an alleged online scam authorities said led to the suicide death of a 17-year-old boy in February.
Jonathan Kassi, 25, was arrested Thursday by Los Angeles police officers on an arrest warrant, the San Jose Police Department announced Monday.
The warrant was obtained by the San Jose Crimes Against Children Task Force, which was investigating a West African financial extortion scheme, authorities said.
Kassi was transferred from Los Angeles to Northern California and “booked for extortion and attempted disorderly conduct — posting of a photograph or recording without consent,” San Jose police said.
CNN is attempting to determine if Kassi has an attorney.
Earlier this year, CNN reported on the suicide death of Ryan Last, who police said was the target of an online scam known as “sextortion.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 (or 800-273-8255) to connect with a trained counselor or visit the NSPL site.
Ryan’s mother, Pauline Stuart, said police determined her son was contacted online by someone purporting to be a girl, who engaged in an online conversation which quickly turned intimate in nature.
According to authorities, the online perpetrator sent Ryan a romantic picture of a young female and asked for one of him in return. Immediately after Ryan shared an intimate photo of his own, the…
