Maryland man accused of extorting Massachusetts victims he met on dating website

BOSTON – A Maryland man has been arrested for allegedly making extortionate threats toward victims in Massachusetts.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 27-year-old Brandon D. Kane of Baltimore was charged with making extortionate threats in interstate commerce. Kane was detained following an initial appearance in federal court in the District of Maryland this afternoon. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the charging documents, Kane used an online dating website to meet victims locally in Eastern Massachusetts. It is alleged that, during such meetings, Kane made unauthorized videos of his victims engaging in illicit drug use or sexual activity with him. Kane then allegedly threatened to release the videos to the victims’ families and employers unless his victims paid him.

The charge of making extortionate threats in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.