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Students are reported for possession of non-firearm weapons about 20 times as often as they are for firearms. But schools are still relatively safe places, and many crime statistics in schools have been improving for years, experts say. 

Easy to conceal, harder to detect: Knives more prevalent than guns in schools 

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All assets associated with the tag: extortion

Extortion Coverage

According to court documents and police reports, the man is accused of uploading a sexually explicit video of a girl under the age of 14 and blackmailing her for more photos.

TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION IN ORANGE COUNTY WILL LEAD. AND ALI WRAL NEWS. THANK YOU, WILLIE. >> ALSO NEW TONIGHT, A CAMERA MAN IS NOW WANTED BY POLICE IN MISSOURI ON CHARGES OF TRAFFICKING. HE'S ACCUSED OF BLACKMAILING THE YOUNG GIRL TO GET SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHOTOS OF HER. THAT'S THE ROSE IN THE STUDIO WITH THE DETAILS. ASHLEY, THIS IS A DISTURBING REMINDER ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET. GERALD LENA, THIS 19 YEAR OLD MAN, JULIAN VILLAS IS CURRENTLY WANTED BY COLUMBIA, MISSOURI. POLICE, ACCORDING TO POLICE AND COURT DOCUMENTS BACK IN AUGUST, THE LESS UPLOADED SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO OF A GIRL UNDER THE AGE OF 14 TO TIKTOK. >> A POLICE STATEMENT DETAILS THAT WHEN THE GIRL ASKED HIM OVER TAX TO DELETE IT, LESS RESPONDED WITH. DO YOU WANT ME TO DELETE IT? YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME. AND THEN HE SAID, IF YOU DON'T, THEN I WOULD KEEP ON LETTING PEOPLE SEE SHE COMPLIED, SENDING HIM TO EXPLICIT PHOTOS. THE COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BOONE COUNTY, MISSOURI, HAS CHARGED THE LESS WITH TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD ENTICEMENT OF A CHILD. THE MISSOURI STATE COURT HAS ORDERED HIS EXTRADITION HARNETT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTED HIM LAST WEEK. HE'S SCHEDULED TO BE IN HARNETT COUNTY COURT ON NOVEMBER. 7TH. I REACHED OUT TO FILL AS

NC man wanted in Missouri on sex trafficking charges

Durham City Councilor Monique Holsey-Hyman spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday about the extortion allegations after a developer claimed she had offered him her vote for his project in exchange for his support of her campaign.

YOUR HOME. >> BREAKING NEWS THIS HALF-HOUR, DURHAM CITY COUNCILOR MONIQUE HOLDS THE SPOKE PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. JUST MOMENTS AGO ABOUT THE EXTORTION ALLEGATIONS DEVELOPER THAT DEVELOPER ALLEGED SHE HAD OFFERED HIM HER VOTE FOR HIS PROJECT IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SUPPORT OF HER CAMPAIGN. >> AND SHE SAYS IT NEVER HAPPENED. WRAL'S MONICA CASEY WAS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE THE COUNCILWOMAN JUST SPOKE SURE SHE HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS. NOW. >> SHE DID COUNCILMEMBER JOSE HYMAN WAS SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS HERE, INCLUDING MAYOR ELAINE O'NEAL AND COUNCILMEMBER DE TRIANA FREEMEN MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION, INCLUDING MIKE WOODARD. NATE BAKER, CHARLIE TO BURRESS AND SHERRY'S AND ROSENTHAL WERE ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT HER HOLES. THE HYMAN SAYS THESE ALLEGATIONS HAVE UP ENDED HER LIFE, BUT SHE SAYS SHE KNEW THE TRUTH WOULD COME OUT. >> MY ETHICAL CHARACTER HAS NEVER BEEN QUESTIONED. AND SO JARROD EATON'S REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH THE FBI AND THE SBI. AS SOMEONE WHO DULY CAN'T KIDS FOR THE TURN. MY SOLE AIM HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SERVE THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF DOUBT. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS ENFORCED MY DETERMINATION. MY UNWAVERING PASSION FOR SERVICE AND FOR LOVE WITH THE CITY. AND THE EAGERNESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY IN A POSITIVE MANNER WILL NEVER GO UNCHANGED. >> NOW IN HER MEMO, THE DURHAM DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS THE DEVELOPER WHO MADE THAT ALLEGATION JARED EVENS DID NOT COOPERATE AND PROVIDE AN INTERVIEW OR EVEN A WRITTEN STATEMENT AT TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE MAYOR SAYS SHE BELIEVES THIS INVESTIGATION NEVER SHOULD HAVE RISEN TO THE LEVEL OF INVOLVING THE SBI. SHE BELIEVES IT COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED QUICKLY SIMPLY WITH ATTORNEYS HOLD, THE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN

Durham City Councilor addresses SBI investigation launched by extortion allegations

Orange County deputies are warning people of sexual extortion, or "sextortion," crimes after six people in the county were targeted. WRAL reporter Aaron Thomas spoke to a cyber security expert and a South Carolina representative about how parents can keep their children safe online, and what to do if it happens to them.

DURING THOSE GAMES. MANY OF THOSE GAMES WILL NOW STARTED 8 O'CLOCK INSTEAD OF 7.30. >> A NEW WARNING TONIGHT FOR ONLINE USERS IN OUR AREA TARGETED IN EXTORTION SCAMS. INVESTIGATORS IN ORANGE COUNTY SAY 6 PEOPLE RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM SCAMMERS THREATENING TO RELEASE REVEALING PHOTOS OF THEM TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY WRAL'S AARON THOMAS JOINS US LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY TONIGHT. AARON, LOCAL STATE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALL SAYING THESE CRIMES ARE ON THE RISE IN OUR STATE. >> YES, CORRECT. WHEN, IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO THOSE THAT HIS SON JUST A LITTLE BIT. BUT A SPOKESPERSON FROM ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SOME OF THE MOST OF THESE VICTIMS INVOLVED ARE YOUNG ADULTS. SO WE'RE TALKING RIGHT AROUND 18 YEARS OLD. THE ALARMING THREAT THAT HAS UNFORTUNATELY LED TO SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES. >> ONE PHOTO SENT TO THE WRONG PERSON ONLINE. >> COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEATH. JAVON VERY ARTSY. HE LOVED. HE WAS COMFORTABLE IN HIS OWN SCAN. BRANDON GOT THE SAYS HIS 17 YEAR-OLD SON GAVIN DUFFY, TOOK HIS OWN LIFE AFTER ONLINE SCAMMERS CONVINCED HIM TO SEND NUDE PHOTOS OF HIMSELF IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY. EVERYONE'S THINKING THIS WILL HAPPEN TO MY CHILD AND IT'S NOT JUST THE ASPECT OF THE ATTACK, BUT IT'S ALSO THE ASPECT OF THE SUICIDE IN THE MIDDLE OUT. >> I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. THE SUN FELL VICTIM TO A SCHEME CALLED SEXTORTION ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAID 6 PEOPLE INCLUDING 3 IN ONE DAY RECEIVED SIMILAR MESSAGES FROM SOMEONE THREATENING TO LEAK NAKED PHOTOS OF THEM UNLESS THEY SEND MONEY. BAD GUYS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO TAKE THE TECHNOLOGY. >> AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE IT FOR BAD PURPOSES. FIRST, CYBERCRIME EXPERT DARREN MOTT SAYS THESE CRIMES CAN START ON ANY WEBSITE OR APP WHERE PEOPLE MEET AND COMMUNICATE. >> IN NORTH CAROLINA OF THE FBI REPORTS A 600% INCREASE IN SEXTORTION CASES BETWEEN 2021 2022, THE FBI REPORTS NEARLY 19,000 REPORTED CYBER TIPS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 2022, THAT'S UP FROM ABOUT 2520 16, BUT SAYS HONEST CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR TEENS COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES SO THAT IF THEY DO GET VICTIMIZED, THEY CAN BE VERY EASILY GO TO THE PARENTS. THE PARENTS CAN THEN REPORT IT. >> TO THE FBI BECAUSE THE TEXT MESSAGE THAT THIS CAME FROM IS VALUABLE INTELLIGENCE FOR THE FBI TO USED TO POSSIBLY TRACK DOWN THE PEOPLE DOING THIS. >> ANOTHER NOTEWORTHY TIP THAT CYBER EXPERT SHARED THAT THE GROWTH I AM MANIPULATING PHOTOS HAS ALSO MADE THIS A COMPLICATED MATTER RATHER THAN ENGAGING WITH THE SCAMMER. WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME HELPFUL RESOURCES ON WRAL DOT COM WITH ANY FAMILIES FEEL AS IF THOUGH THEIR CHILD HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF THIS TYPE OF CRIME THAT MAKES IT SO SCARY. US TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY GOING TO IMPROVE, TOO. SO THIS COULD

Orange Co. deputies warn of sexual extortion scams

Deputies warn of sexual extortion scams

Sextortion is when someone threatens a victim to release revealing photos or videos to family, friends and coworkers unless they receive money. WRAL News spoke with experts and a South Carolina lawmaker about how you can keep your children safe online from sextortion.

'Sextortion' scams on the rise in NC, Orange County Sheriff's Office says

Sexual extortion warning in Orange County

An embattled Johnston County school board member and former Smithfield police officer filed a federal lawsuit, claiming he is a victim and asking for damages.



Former Smithfield police officer, Johnston school board member files federal lawsuit

Ronald Johnson, Smithfield police detective

At a Durham City Council work session in late March, it was revealed that City Council Member Monique Holsey-Hyman was accused of offering a developer support for a project if that developer donated to her campaign.

<p>STORMS THAT ARE DEVELOPING OFF TO THE NORTHWEST COMING UP. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, KAT. WE'VE LEARNED THE NAME OF THE DEVELOPER BEHIND AN EXTORTION ALLEGATION AGAINST THE DURHAM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COUNSELOR MONAE COZY HYMAN IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AS WRAL'S MONICA CASEY EXPLAINS. SHE VOTED AGAINST THE DEVELOPERS PROJECT AGAIN. &gt;&gt; THIS IS THE SITE OF THE CARPENTER PRESERVE DEVELOPMENT, THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROJECT CLAIMS THE DURHAM CITY COUNCILOR TOLD HIM SHE WOULD SUPPORT AN X IN THIS PROPERTY IF HE DONATED TO HER CAMPAIGN AND ALLEGATION FROM DEVELOPER JARED EATON'S HAS SPURRED AN SBI AND FBI INVESTIGATION INTO DURHAM CITY COUNCILOR MONIQUE HOLES. THE AIDEN'S IS REALLY AN BEHIND. THE CARPENTER FALLS NOW RENAMED CARPENTER PRESERVE DEVELOPMENT, HIS ANNEXATION REQUEST FOR THE PROJECT HIGHLIGHTED HERE IN RED FAILED IN EARLY MARCH. EATON'S EXTORTION ALLEGATION AGAINST HOLES. THE WAS MADE PUBLIC LATER THAT MONTH AND THE AMENDED DEVELOPMENT CAME BACK BEFORE CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT. &gt;&gt; THEY ARE ONLINE IDENTIFIED IN THAT MEETING. SHE PRESENTED EMAILS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT WHETHER HOLES THE SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF FROM VOTING ON THE PROJECT. AGAIN, LIKE IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND LEGAL AND ETHICAL OBLIGATION OF AN OF INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASSESS WHETHER THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT NECESSITATES THEY'RE RETOOLING FROM EXERCISING THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES. PALSY. HYMAN DID NOT RECUSE HERSELF AND VOTED AGAINST THE PROJECT FOR A SECOND TIME. IAN'S FOCUSED HIS COMMENTS ONLY ON THE FOCUS ON THE PROJECT THIS EVENING. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE &gt;&gt; I'M NEVER REQUESTED OF UP. AND COMING UP HERE FOR HOW MANY YEARS, 20 ON 2025 YEARS NEVER REQUESTED THAT THAT ANY MEMBERS NOT VOTER OR ANYTHING EVER IN THERE AND THAT IT SHOULD COME UP AND AND WELCOME TO THE FULL COUNCIL ATTENTION THIS EVENING AS A FOCUS ON THE PROJECT IN DURHAM, MONICA CASEY, WRAL, NEWS AND EVENTS TELLS US HE</p>

Developer behind Durham City Council extortion allegation revealed

The name of the developer who accused a Durham City Councilor of an extortion attempt was revealed at Monday night's City Council meeting.

Durham mayor reveals name of developer who accused council member of extortion

The City of Durham logo. Photo taken August 17, 2018. 

Former Smithfield police officer and current Johnston County Board of Education member Ronald Johnson was indicted by a grand jury on Monday.

Bond at $50K for Johnston school board member indicted for extortion

Johnston County School Board member Ronald Johnson

Ronald Johnson has been indicted by a grand jury for extortion and obstruction of justice. Johnson has served on the Johnston County School Board since 2016.

DYLAN PIPER. THEY'RE DUE BACK IN COURT NEXT MONTH. >> SOME NEW INFORMATION RIGHT NOW IN THE LIVE CENTER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I MARK BOYLE. WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING YOU THE UPDATE RIGHT NOW ON RONALD JOHNSON. HE IS THE CURRENT ACTIVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DOWN IN JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE INVESTIGATION HAS NOW GIVEN SOME NEW LIGHT INTO WHAT'S GOING ON. THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH IN SOME VIDEO OF THE MAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. A GRAND JURY AND JOHNSTON COUNTY INDICTED MISTER JOHNSON ON ONE COUNT OF EXTORTION, ONE COUNT OF FELONY OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND 3 COUNTS OF WILL WILLFULLY FAILING TO DISCHARGE DUTIES. SOME OF THESE CHARGES DATE BACK MONTHS, EVEN SOME ALLEGATIONS INCLUDE RECORDING DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT BOARDS AND SENDING INAPPROPRIATE TEXT MESSAGES. HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE NOW HAS BEEN SCHEDULED WITH THE JOHNSTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT TOMORROW MORNING AT 09:00AM ON SOME OF THESE CHARGES WILL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU UPDATED AS

Ronald Johnson indicted by grand jury for extortion

A Vance County deputy has been indicted on extortion charges, authorities said Tuesday.

Vance deputy charged with extortion

Vance County Sheriff

Two South Carolina men are accused of posing as police officers and threatening a man to give wire them money, according to the Alamance County Sheriff's Office.

Two SC men charged after posing as police officers, extorting NC man 

Christpher Calhoun (left) and Steven Timmons (right) 

A man accused of using social media to try and extort racy photographs from women is now facing charges in the Port City.



UNCW students among victims in alleged social media 'sextortion' case

Kevin Allen Kerney

Jeff Bezos, the world’s wealthiest person, revealed in a sensational blog post Thursday that he believed he was the victim of “extortion and blackmail” by the company behind The National Enquirer. He accused the company, American Media Inc., of threatening to release graphic photos of him.