Raffaela Spone, 50, was arrested and charged with three counts of Cyber Harassment of a Child and three counts of Harassment after she was caught sending deepfake videos made to look like her daughter's rivals were stripping, smoking, and drinking, according to prosecutors.
An investigation was started in July 2020 after a teen alerted authorities about being harassed via text messages. At least two more accusers came forward, and it turns out, they were all members of the Victory Vipers cheerleading group in Hilltown Township, Pennsylvania. The first accuser received a photoshopped image that depicted her in the nude when in reality, it was originally a photo posted on her social media, which showed her wearing a bathing suit. The same teen girl also received deepfake images and videos of her drinking and smoking a vape.
Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub added that the anonymous texter pretended to be a "concerned parent," who also told the victims to kill themselves. One of the fathers, George Ratel told the Philly Inquirer, "he believes the harassment was triggered after he and his wife told his daughter to stop hanging out with Spone’s daughter, due to concerns over the girl’s behavior. Police do not believe Spone's daughter was aware of her actions.
Police say officers were able to execute multiple search warrants that allowed them to trace the text messages back to Spone’s IP address and then her cell phone
Spone's attorney, Robert Birch, says she denies the allegations, stating, "She has absolutely denied what they're charging her with and because of the fact that this has hit the press, she has received death threats. She has had to go to the police herself, they have a report. Her life has been turned upside down."
Spone is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 30.
Source: Penn Live
