Irondequoit Man Arrested, Charged With Cyberstalking; Investigators Asking For Assistance From The Public

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Theodore Loria, 53, of Irondequoit, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with cyberstalking. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the Buffalo FBI Cyber Task Force was notified in June 2018 of a possible cyber stalking campaign being executed by the defendant.

Subsequent investigation determined that the Victim in the case met Loria in May 2015 at her place of employment. Shortly after that meeting, the defendant expressed an interest in dating, which was not reciprocated by the Victim. In September 2015, Loria contacted the Victim and told her that her life was in danger and they needed to talk. During a conversation, the defendant told the Victim that he had overheard her ex-boyfriend in a restaurant say that the Victim was better off dead and that the ex-boyfriend was going to kill her. Loria then offered to keep an eye on the ex-boyfriend and the Victim to ensure her safety.

On October 31, 2015, the defendant told the Victim that he had seen a mysterious car circling her property and that he chased it away. Loria also said that Halloween is an easy night to commit murder because it was the one night when wearing a mask was not questioned. The defendant told the Victim he would stay on her driveway through the night to ensure her safety.  

Loria and the Victim became romantically involved for approximately three months from late spring to early summer of 2016. During that time, the defendant became protective of the Victim, jealous of any male clients or employees, and routinely monitored her Facebook page, commenting to her about online conversations she had with males on the Facebook page.

In the summer of 2016, the Victim began to distance herself from Loria. In June 2016, the defendant asked to meet the Victim at a local coffee shop, during which he gave her a diamond ring so that people would know the Victim was spoken for. The Victim refused to take the ring. Loria stated “take the (expletive) ring” and “put the (expletive) ring on your (expletive) finger.” The Victim kept the ring and left the coffee shop. The defendant followed the Victim to another location where he apologized. The two did not speak for several months after. Months later the Victim saw Loria in her driveway. He told her, “give me my (expletive) ring back,” which the Victim did.  

In the months to follow, the Victim received threatening phone calls and text messages from the defendant. One text read, “Your DEAD cop calling (expletive) [address of Victim].” And during one phone call, Loria stated he would burn down her place of business. The defendant also told the Victim that he had connections to the mafia and to cold-blooded killers who owed him favors, and who would take care of people who crossed him. 

In February 2017, Loria confronted the Victim and her ex-boyfriend at a restaurant. The defendant approached the ex-boyfriend and told him that he would beat him every day for the rest of his life and that if he went to jail that he would beat him again after he got out. Following this incident, the Victim began receiving escalating threats via phone call, text message, or in person at her place of business. Loria stated that the Victim had crossed him and he had no choice but to teach her a lesson. 

In a series of text messages, emails, and phone calls, the defendant also accused the Victim of plotting with Charlie Tan to murder him. In 2015, Charlie Tan was accused of murdering his father, but a state court jury failed to reach a verdict. However, in November 2018, Tan was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison on federal gun charges. The Victim confirmed to investigators that she allowed Tan to volunteer at her place of business during his legal proceedings.  
 
The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman and was detained. Loria is schedule to be back in court on September 18, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. 
Members of the public who have information related to this case are asked to call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 585-546-2220.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  
 
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