U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has handed down a five-year federal prison sentence to Christopher Au-Young, a 36-year-old resident of California, for interstate stalking and cyberstalking. Au-Young pleaded guilty to six counts of stalking five different victims on July 28, 2023.
According to court documents, Au-Young embarked on a campaign of online and telephonic harassment and threats against multiple victims living in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere since August 2022. The victims, all of whom were black, were targeted with the intent to harass and intimidate. Au-Young engaged in cyberstalking, harassment, and threats by posting videos on various social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and Reddit. In his messages, he frequently used racial slurs and other racially offensive language.
One of the victims, referred to as Victim 1, met Au-Young through his podcast dedicated to interracial dating. However, when Victim 1 expressed disinterest in continuing the relationship, Au-Young began a terrorizing campaign against her, using racist threats. Au-Young went as far as publishing Victim 1’s personal information, including her home address and real name, on YouTube without her consent. He even drove three hours to her residence in the middle of the night and parked outside her home. Fearing for her safety, Victim 1 had no choice but to relocate. She also correctly believed that Au-Young targeted black women through his podcast and racist statements made online regarding Dylan Roof and mass shootings.
Another victim, Victim 2, met Au-Young through a Facebook group about veterans and engaged in a consensual dating relationship. However, when Victim 2 decided to end the relationship, Au-Young’s behavior turned into stalking, threats, and harassment towards not only Victim 2 but also her family members. Au-Young posted multiple videos on the internet that contained racist and defamatory remarks, cautioning the community to stay away from Victim 2 and her family. According to Victim 2, Au-Young made it clear that he would continue pursuing her and even advised her to lock her doors at night. He even went as far as offering a $4,000 reward for information on Victim 2’s whereabouts.
The adult daughter of Victim 2, known as Victim 3, became a target of Au-Young’s threats as well. He posted numerous videos online, threatening to harm her. In one particular video, Au-Young used Victim 3’s name with a text overlay calling her a pedophile. He also accused her of being homophobic and called for her place of employment to terminate her. Taking his threats to the next level, Au-Young drove from California to Illinois in December 2022 to stalk Victim 3 in person. During his cross-country trip, he posted videos online announcing his intention to vandalize Victim 3’s vehicle as retaliation for Victim 2 breaking up with him. Au-Young managed to stalk Victim 3 for three days at her workplace before law enforcement officers were alerted by a concerned individual who observed his suspicious activity on YouTube. The officers located Au-Young in the backseat of his vehicle parked near the entrance of Victim 3’s workplace.
Au-Young also targeted Victim 4, the son of Victim 2, and subjected him to racist, threatening, and defamatory videos posted online. Additionally, he mailed four letters to Victim 4, using racial slurs and making threats against him and his family.
Victim 5, the brother of Victim 2, was also a victim of Au-Young’s actions. Au-Young published videos on the internet falsely accusing Victim 5 of being a pedophile. These videos depicted Victim 5 and made specific allegations against him, claiming that he was a dangerous person who had molested several children. The videos also implicated Victim 5’s wife. Au-Young went on to send letters to Victim 5’s residence and the church where Victim 5 worked as a minister, continuing his false accusations and spreading misinformation about him.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department, the Anaheim Police Department in California, and the Carbondale Police Department in Illinois. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel and former Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Thelwell.
In conclusion, Christopher Au-Young’s disturbing campaign of stalking and cyberstalking against multiple victims, specifically targeting black women, has resulted in a significant prison sentence. His despicable actions caused immense fear, harassment, and emotional distress to the victims and their families. It is essential to hold individuals accountable for such crimes and to continue combating cyber harassment and online threats in order to create a safer digital environment for all individuals.
