British Columbia Man Charged with Online Extortion

Anwer Jelassi, a 19-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., is facing nearly two dozen charges including extortion, luring, and child pornography following a significant investigation by Burnaby RCMP. The charges stem from multiple reports by victims aged 15 to 18 from Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario, who were extorted after sharing explicit images on social media. Jelassi allegedly demanded money under the threat of distributing these images to the victims' social networks. The investigation, which began in December 2022, culminated in a raid on Jelassi's home in January 2023, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges in July. Jelassi is under strict court-ordered conditions, prohibiting contact with victims and access to social networking sites. Authorities commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward, which was crucial in advancing the investigation and pressing charges.