Massachusetts man pleads guilty to chatbot-enabled cyberstalking campaign
A Plymouth, Massachusetts man agreed to plead guilty to using AI chatbots on CrushOn.ai and JanitorAI to impersonate victims and facilitate a cyberstalking campaign spanning over a decade. Florence programmed chatbots to pose as a university professor victim and direct strangers to her home address, and engaged in similar crimes against multiple victims including creating fake sexual images and accessing their accounts without permission.
What happened
James Florence Jr., 36, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, programmed AI chatbots on CrushOn.ai and JanitorAI to impersonate a university professor victim, using her personal and professional information including her home address, date of birth, and family information. He instructed the chatbots to engage in sexual dialogue, answer affirmatively about the victim being sexually adventurous, and suggest to users 'Why don't you come over?' which led strangers to drive to her home.
From January 2014 through September 2024, Florence engaged in an extensive cyberstalking campaign targeting multiple victims using various techniques including creating fake nude images using generative AI tools, doxing victims, creating fake accounts in their names, and accessing their online accounts without authorization. He stole a victim's underwear and used photos of it to harass her and engage with others online.
Reported impact
Strangers pulled into the victim's driveway and parked outside her house after being directed there by the chatbot. The victims received threatening messages from social media and email accounts believed to be controlled by Florence.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.