5 sources·World

Northern Ireland Man Sentenced to Life for Global Catfishing Abuse

Alexander McCartney, convicted of blackmailing minors worldwide, receives a 20-year sentence for manslaughter linked to the death of Cimarron Thomas.

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Updated: Oct 25th, 2024, 5:10 PM ET

Summary

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Alexander McCartney was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to 185 charges of sexual abuse, blackmail, and manslaughter of 12-year-old Cimarron Thomas. His actions resulted in her suicide and affected girls across 30 countries, making it one of the largest catfishing cases globally. Authorities revealed McCartney used social media to exploit his victims, and this case marks a legal first for manslaughter involving a victim and perpetrator who never met.

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