CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina couple was sentenced to federal prison Thursday for a cyberstalking scheme that targeted a disabled Chick-fil-A employee and drove him to suicide after just three days of harassment.
U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. ordered Trysten Anthony Cullon, 27, to serve 41 months in prison and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 27, to serve 27 months after both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking. The case has drawn national attention for its deliberate targeting of a vulnerable victim and the devastating consequences that followed. Christopher John Tsoulos, 37, who had an intellectual disability and worked as a greeter at Chick-fil-A, took his own life on September 8, 2024, after the defendants sent threatening messages to his family demanding money and threatening to destroy his reputation.
The scheme began on September 5, 2024, when Cullon approached Tsoulos during his shift at a Charlotte Chick-fil-A restaurant at approximately 4:52 p.m. Court documents show that Cullon asked to use Tsoulos’ cellphone, and the trusting employee allowed him to borrow the unlocked device. Security footage captured Cullon using the phone to send urgent messages to Stone, who was waiting in the parking lot, telling her the situation was “urgent” and asking her to pick him up. The couple had already prepared for their criminal enterprise earlier that day by creating a new Gmail address and Cash App account as part of their premeditated plan. “This couple intentionally tormented a young man with intellectual disabilities for personal enrichment,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said in a statement following the sentencing.
Once Cullon and Stone gained access to Tsoulos’ phone and Apple ID, they immediately attempted unauthorized transfers from his financial accounts, including Cash App, PayPal, and his bank account, according to prosecutors. When their theft attempts failed, the defendants escalated their criminal scheme by using the stolen phone to send threatening messages to Tsoulos’ family members and associates. The messages accused him of being a “pervert” and threatened to spread false allegations to his employer and family unless they received compensation. In one message sent to a relative, the defendants wrote: “Your son is a pervert and I’m going to let his job and everyone else in his family know that. Unless you want me to ruin him and embarrass you I suggest you provide some compensation.” The defendants demanded $300 through Cash App and made additional threats to accuse Tsoulos of “harassing girls,” visiting brothels, paying women for sexual images, and engaging in sexual activity with minors.
The harassment campaign lasted only from September 5 through September 8, 2024, but had devastating consequences for Tsoulos, who relied heavily on his family for support due to his intellectual disability. Prosecutors said the cyberstalking scheme “drove him to suicide,” as the vulnerable man became convinced he had done something wrong by allowing his phone to be stolen and feared he would lose his job or face legal consequences. On September 8, Tsoulos shot and killed himself on the front steps of his Charlotte home, where his father discovered his body the following morning. Federal officials described the defendants as exploiting their vulnerable victim for financial gain to “fuel their drug addiction.” The case highlighted how quickly online harassment can destroy lives, particularly when targeting individuals with disabilities who may not fully understand the malicious nature of such schemes.
Tsoulos had been a beloved figure in his community, working previously as a “co-owner” of John’s Family Restaurant for many years before embracing his role as a host at Chick-fil-A. His online obituary described him as “a shining light in the lives of all whom he encountered” whose “limitless heart extended compassion and love to everyone he met, creating connections that left lasting impressions.” The obituary noted that at Chick-fil-A, he found “an opportunity that reaffirmed his devotion to service and his natural flair for making others feel welcomed and cherished.” His death sent shockwaves through the Charlotte community and highlighted the vulnerability of individuals with intellectual disabilities to predatory schemes. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said the case left a profound impact on court proceedings, noting “there was not a dry eye in the courtroom” during Thursday’s sentencing hearing.
In addition to their prison sentences, both Cullon and Stone were ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $26,699.65 in restitution to Tsoulos’ family. More than 60 of Tsoulos’ friends and family members packed the courtroom Thursday, with additional supporters waiting outside the federal courthouse. Ferguson emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating that “Cullon and Stone turned to preying on the most vulnerable among us” and expressing hope that the sentences would bring some measure of justice to the victim’s loved ones. The case serves as a stark reminder of how cyberstalking laws apply to modern digital crimes and the severe penalties that await those who exploit vulnerable individuals through online harassment and extortion schemes.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a case that has highlighted both the dangers facing individuals with disabilities in digital spaces and the swift action federal authorities can take when such crimes cross state lines or involve electronic communications. Both defendants are expected to begin serving their sentences in the coming weeks, while Tsoulos’ family continues to grieve the loss of a man remembered for his kindness and dedication to serving others in his community roles.
