South Carolina Couple Sentenced For Cyberstalking Scheme That Targeted Vulnerable Victim And His Family

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A man and woman from South Carolina were sentenced today for carrying out a cyberstalking scheme targeting a vulnerable victim and his immediate family members using extortive and threatening text messages, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today's announcement.

Trysten Anthony Cullon, 27, and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 27, both of South Carolina, were sentenced to 41 months and 27 months in prison, respectively. They were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after they are released from prison, and to pay restitution in the amount of $26,699.65. Cullon and Stone previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking.

"This case is heartbreaking," said U.S. Attorney Ferguson, "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," Ferguson added.

"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," said Special Agent in Charge Davis.

According to court records, from September 5 to September 8, 2024, the defendants engaged in a cyberstalking scheme against Christopher Tsoulos, a 27-year-old with an intellectual disability who was classified as "Educable Mentally Disabled." Because of his disability, Christopher relied heavily on the support of his immediate family and did not live on his own. Christopher was also employed at a fast-food restaurant in Charlotte.

Court documents show that, on September 5, 2024, Cullon visited the fast-food restaurant where he encountered Christopher while he was at work. Cullon obtained Christopher's phone, and because the phone was unlocked, Cullon and Stone had unfettered access to the financial applications on the phone, including mobile payment apps and Christopher's bank account. Between September 5 and September 7, Cullon and Stone made repeated unsuccessful attempts to obtain funds from Christopher's accounts.

Court documents show that Cullon and Stone then began to send Christopher's family members multiple harassing and intimidating text messages demanding money and threatening to provide derogatory and embarrassing information to Christopher's employer unless they were paid. Their salacious claims included false allegations that Christopher was a pervert, that he harassed girls, and that he paid girls for sexual pictures.

As a result of the substantial emotional distress caused by the extortive and threatening text messages sent by Cullon and Stone and fearing he would lose his job or go to jail, Christopher died by suicide.

In handing down Cullon and Stone's sentences, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. said, "this is a particularly egregious version of this crime, resulting in a victim killing themselves."

Cullon and Stone remain in federal custody. They will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI for their investigation of the case, along with substantial assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution.