Used various social media accounts to communicate vulgar and
sexually explicit messages to young women
Evansville – United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced
today federal charges against a Mississippi man for his role in a
four-year-long interstate stalking case involving young women from the
Evansville area. Orlando L. Webber, 43, Columbus, Mississippi, has been charged
with five counts of interstate stalking.
“Stalking is no longer a face-to-face crime,” said Minkler.
“Social media has made us all vulnerable to criminals who can stalk from
anywhere in the world. Those who believe they can remain anonymous should plan
on federal law enforcement knocking on their door.”
For over four years, Webber is alleged to have used the
moniker “Lando” to stalk as many as 30 high school- aged young women using
various social media outlets. Most victims recall receiving vulgar and sexually
explicit communications from Webber when they were 15-16 years old. Each time a
victim would receive the stalking messages, she would block him from their
accounts, only to have Webber use a different account name to resume the
stalking.
In April 2016, Victim 1 contacted the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tip Line to report that she and several
other Evansville area high school girls
were being harassed through their Twitter accounts. The messages
included nude photographs of an adult male asking for sexual favors.
Federal law enforcement officials subpoenaed subscriber
records and were able to locate Webber who lived with his mother in Columbus,
Mississippi. FBI agents used facial recognition technology through the
Mississippi Fusion Center to identify Webber.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Evansville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Shellenbarger, who is
prosecuting this case for the government, said Webber faces up to five years’
imprisonment on each count if convicted.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.
Webber will have his initial appearance at 3 p.m. today in
the Evansville Federal Building.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler
announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s
response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution
demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those who exploit
children through the use of social media and to work closely with Project Safe
Childhood. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana
Strategic Plan 4.1 and 4.2
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