A Torrance man pleaded guilty Friday, May 27, to federal charges that he conducted a campaign to obtain sexual images of women from his hometown while he was an active-duty US Marine at Camp Pendleton.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, 25-year-old Johao Chavari filed his plea on three counts of stalking, which carry a total sentence of up to 15 years and a $750,000 fine.
The sentence for the former Marine was set for September 15.
From 2019 to 2021, Chavari used the online alias “Frito” and created various online accounts to intimidate and bully women, and demanded that he send her nude or sexually explicit photos and videos, as part of his plea agreement. As per, filed in Los Angeles Federal. Court.
Prosecutors said the threats continued for more than a year in some cases.
Chawri reached out to the victims on social media, praising their presence and saying he would pay to get the photos or videos. Some victims agreed and sent nude, explicit, or compromising photos.
When the victims denied initial requests, later for more photos or videos or just broke communication, Chavari harassed them with multiple online accounts, prosecutors said.
As per the agreement, Chawri told some of the victims that if they refused to accede to their demands, he would post their obscene pictures and videos online or on famous pornographic websites.
Prosecutors said he also threatened to send explicit material to his boyfriend, friends, families or employers, whom he often identified by name.
Federal prosecutors said Chavari sent a message via Instagram to several victims, saying he would spend his “entire life ruining their lives.”
