A man and woman from South Carolina were sentenced on Mar. 12 for a cyberstalking scheme that targeted a vulnerable individual and his family through extortive and threatening text messages, according to Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The case highlights the dangers faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities who may be more susceptible to exploitation. The sentencing underscores the legal consequences of using technology to harass and extort victims, especially those considered vulnerable.
Trysten Anthony Cullon, 27, received a sentence of 41 months in prison, while Jade Ashlynn Stone, also 27, was sentenced to 27 months. Both defendants will serve three years of supervised release after their prison terms and must pay $26,699.65 in restitution. They previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson said, “This case is heartbreaking; there was not a dry eye in the courtroom at sentencing. To fuel their drug addiction, Cullon and Stone turned to preying on the most vulnerable among us. Christopher had a developmental disability and lent his phone to a stranger out of kindness – only to have that stranger, Cullon, use the phone to steal Christopher’s money using financial apps. Even that wasn’t enough – Cullon and Stone then stole the phone and threatened to spread lies about Christopher, which drove him to suicide.”
Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said, “This couple intentionally tormented a young man with intellectual disabilities for personal enrichment. While Christopher’s life is priceless and his family is forever changed, we hope a federal prison sentence will bring some form of justice and comfort for his loved ones.”
Court records show that between September 5 and September 8, 2024, Cullon and Stone targeted Christopher Tsoulos—a 27-year-old classified as “Educable Mentally Disabled”—after encountering him at his workplace in Charlotte. After gaining access to his unlocked phone, they attempted multiple times to withdraw funds from his accounts before sending harassing messages demanding money from his family members.
The threats included false allegations intended to damage Christopher’s reputation at work. As a result of these actions and fearing job loss or jail time due to the extortionate claims made against him, Christopher died by suicide.
In delivering the sentences, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. said it was “a particularly egregious version of this crime, resulting in a victim killing themselves.”
Cullon and Stone remain in federal custody pending transfer to a designated federal facility. The FBI led the investigation with assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
