The 21-year-old Ghanaian was arrested in the United States for alleged extortion of a naked photo
Cross Abu Cole, a 21-year-old Ghanaian national, has been arrested and prosecuted in the United States for reportedly threatening to reveal a victim’s nude photos, including photos obtained when the victim was a kid, in an attempt to extract money.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York released a press release stating that Cole was arrested when he arrived at an airport in Houston, Texas.
“Cross Abu Cole, 21, a citizen of Ghana who was taken into custody when he landed in Houston, TX, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interstate communications with intent to extort,” the statement read. If convicted, Cole faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is prosecuting the case, revealed that the investigation began in October 2022, when the victim, a U.S. resident, reported receiving threatening messages involving nude photographs of himself as a minor.
The victim told investigators that he was contacted by someone using a mobile number who demanded a $200 payment via CashApp to the account name “$zettsa.”
The sender threatened to send the sexual images to the victim’s Snapchat connections if payment was not received.
The victim received two naked photos shortly after the threat: one of a buddy and one of himself as a child. According to the victim, both seemed to have been accessed through his Snapchat account, which was previously connected to a Yahoo email that had been compromised.
The victim tried to send the money at first, but after talking to his father, he canceled the transaction. However, the threats continued, and the same phone number continued to send more messages.
Cole was arrested as a result of additional FBI investigation that connected him to the hacked accounts and threatening communications. He was ordered to stay in jail during his first court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.
Under the leadership of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the FBI is conducting an investigation into the case.
In a court of law, the defendant is assumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, authorities have emphasized, and the criminal complaint is only an accusation.
KA
