A north suburban man allegedly hacked into three computers, stealing “private” photos of the female owners, then demanded more, according to police.
A woman contacted Northbrook police in July and reported someone had hacked into her Facebook and Dropbox accounts and stole images of her that were “private in nature,” police said.
"He accessed some of those private photos and used that as leverage," said Northbrook Police Chief Charles Wernick.
Police allege the suspect demanded the woman send him additional photos or he would release the stolen ones.
Northbrook police conducted a four-month investigation and identified 24-year-old Demetrius Patton as a suspect, Wernick said.
Authorities executed a search warrant at the home he shares with his mother in the 2100 block Rugen Road in Glenview on Nov. 25, and seized his computer, which was sent to a crime lab.
Patton is accused of also trying to blackmail two other victims in the north suburbs, both of them juveniles, Wernick said.
Patton was charged with two counts of soliciting child pornography and three counts of intimidation, but the investigation remains open, Wernick said.
Authorities suspect there may be many more victims in the case and expect more charges in the coming weeks.
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Police recommend not keeping private things on the internet.
"Don't do it," said Wernick. "That's the simplest thing. Whatever you put out there, be prepared for the whole world to see."
