U.S. Navy Captain Convicted of Stealing Ex-Girlfriend’s Identity and Posting Explicit Images
On June 14, a federal jury convicted Theodore E. Essenfeld, a U.S. Navy Captain, of charges related to stealing the identity of a former girlfriend and posing as her online, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California.
Essenfeld created fake accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and email using his ex-girlfriend’s name, photographs, and information, prosecutors say. He did so without any knowledge or consent from his former partner.
A LinkedIn account apparently owned by Essenfeld claimed that he has “31 years of service in the United States Navy” and has “had the honor and privilege to mentor and lead thousands of America’s finest men and women over the years.”
Essenfeld posted erotic and sexually explicit content on these accounts while posing as his ex-girlfriend, said the U.S. Attorney. He also interacted with other social media users, sending messages, liking posts, and joining dating groups. He even linked the fake Facebook and LinkedIn profiles with the victim’s real-life prospective employer and engaged with them online. Essenfeld also interacted with posts from the victim’s former co-workers, university, U.S. Navy and her former fitness studios.
More than 1,200 users became ‘friends’ with the fake account while Essenfeld was running it. The victim reported the fake account over 400 times to Facebook, but the profile was not taken down as it seemed more legitimate than her actual account – which had fewer posts and less engagement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s press release.
The federal jury convicted Essenfeld on two counts: cyberstalking and identity theft. Count one carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while count two carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“The impact of cyberstalking can be as crushing as a physical blow,” U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said. “Thanks to the persistent courage of this victim, the jury saw the damage Mr. Essenfeld inflicted in every aspect of her life – from her workplace to her gym – and today, they held him accountable for his acts of deceit and destruction.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sabrina Feve is the prosecutor on Theodore Essenfeld’s case and Michael A. Deshong. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie is scheduled to provide sentencing on Sept. 6, 2024.
If you are the victim of identity theft, you should contact the FTC online at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. You can also contact your local police and social media companies to request that they remove fake profiles immediately.
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