DA: NY Trooper 'Catfishes' Woman, Threatens to Leak Pics

A New York State Trooper was arraigned on a grand jury indictment after pretending to be a man on a dating website, “catfishing” a woman and threatening to post naked photos of the woman if she did not comply with her demands, prosecutors said.

Jennifer Daignault, 31, of Rome, New York, was arraigned Monday and charged with coercion in the first degree and two counts of coercion in the second degree, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced Tuesday.

Daignault was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court on Sept. 23.

If convicted of the top count, she faces up to seven years in prison.

The New York State Police had no comment. Meanwhile, Daignault's attorney did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. 

District Attorney Madeline Singas said that from May 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018, Daignault had multiple online identities pretending to be a man and allegedly began a text message-only relationship with the 33-year-old woman who lives in Nassau County.

Prosecutors say they met on the dating website PlentyofFish.

Daignault received numerous naked photographs from the victim, who believed that she was communicating with a man, according to prosecutors. Daignault then allegedly used the photos to coerce the victim to go to Queens and Manhattan and attempt to purchase a fake New York State identification for her. Prosecutors say that Daignault allegedly threatened the victim that if she did not comply with her demands she would post the victim’s naked photographs online.

Following a month-long investigation, Daignault was arrested on Sept. 13, 2018.

“The defendant allegedly ‘catfished’ an unsuspecting Nassau County woman and threatened to post her naked photos online unless the victim acquired a fake New York State identification card for the defendant,” Singas said. “This case highlights the need to be cautious when using online dating platforms and to limit the amount of personal information you share before meeting in person or speaking on the phone.”

Photo Credit: Pexels/CC

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