Chicago Man Charged in Federal Court With Cyberstalking

CHICAGO — A Chicago man was arrested today on a federal criminal charge for allegedly cyberstalking and harassing a former romantic partner.

A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges VINCENT STORME, 32, with cyberstalking.  Storme made an initial court appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sunil R. Harjani and was ordered to remain in federal custody.  Judge Harjani scheduled a detention hearing for Friday at 1:30 p.m.

The charge was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.   The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shoba Pillay.

According to the complaint, Storme began a campaign of threats and harassment against the victim after she ended their relationship.  Storme accessed the victim’s social media accounts without her knowledge to obtain private messages and data, including nude photographs of the victim, which he then disseminated to her family, friends, and co-workers, the complaint states.  Storme also created a website and social media accounts bearing the victim’s name, and used them to further embarrass and harass the victim, the complaint states.

Cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.