Two Dominican Republic nationals have been extradited to the United States to face charges over an alleged sextortion scheme that used social media to target victims in Puerto Rico, threaten exposure of sexually explicit images, and demand money.
Patricia Joanna Almonte-Frías and her partner, Rineldys Feliciano Díaz-Cuevas, were extradited on September 30, 2026, after being arrested in the Dominican Republic on August 19 at the request of US authorities.
The defendants face charges of conspiracy to cyberstalk and send interstate threats in the District of Puerto Rico, according to the US Department of Justice. The case concerns an alleged international operation in which victims were pressured to make payments under threats that compromising images would be shared with their families and friends.
Sextortion Scheme Allegedly Used Social Media Platforms
According to court documents, Almonte-Frías and Díaz-Cuevas operated a financially motivated sextortion conspiracy from the Dominican Republic. The alleged scheme involved identifying victims through Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms.
Prosecutors allege that Almonte-Frías used her image to encourage victims in Puerto Rico to share sexually explicit photos and videos online. The material was secretly recorded, according to the allegations.
Díaz-Cuevas and other alleged co-conspirators subsequently demanded money from victims, threatening to distribute the compromising images to their family members and friends if they did not pay.
In some instances, the defendants allegedly created photo collages combining victims’ sexually explicit images with pictures of minors. According to the Justice Department, these collages were designed to create the false impression that the victims were involved in sexual relationships with minors.
The alleged social media extortion operation continued even after some victims made payments. Court documents state that, on multiple occasions, victims paid the demanded amounts and emptied their accounts, but the threats were still carried out. The victims’ sexual images were subsequently distributed to their online networks of friends and family members.
FBI San Juan Investigated Cyberstalking Allegations
Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, said the alleged operation exploited victims’ trust and vulnerability, causing lasting harm.
Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan, said online extortion can cause significant financial and psychological harm. He encouraged people who suspect they have been targeted by extortion to report the incidents to law enforcement.
The FBI San Juan office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo, the US Marshals Service, and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic assisted in securing the defendants’ arrests and extradition.
Assistant US Attorney Julián Radzinschi, from the Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Division, is prosecuting the case.
Sextortion Conspiracy Charges Carry Up to Five Years in Prison
Almonte-Frías and Díaz-Cuevas face charges of conspiracy to cyberstalk and send interstate threats under 18 U.S.C. § 371. They made their initial court appearances on October 1, 2026, before US Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López of the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Dominican Republic extradition marks the transfer of the two defendants to US jurisdiction to face the charges. The case also involves cooperation between US and Dominican Republic authorities in investigating alleged cross-border criminal activity.
An indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
