ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) – A Syracuse man is accused of an extortion scheme.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Ross Haley was arrested by State Police from the Ithaca barracks and charged with felony grand larceny. The 28-year-old is accused of sending sexually explicit photos via text message to someone unknown to him under the pretense that the pictures were of an adult.  Troopers say Haley then claimed the pictures were of a minor and demanded money under threat of police involvement.

The victim ultimately paid $1300 to Haley through the mobile phone app Venmo. Haley was processed and transported to Tompkins County Jail for centralized arraignment.