A Great Neck man and ex-campaign worker for national Republican candidates has admitted to trying to coerce 14 women into giving him nude photos after reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
Adam Savader, a self-described former staffer for the 2012 presidential campaigns of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, pleaded guilty at Detroit federal court to cyberstalking and extortion.
“Remember what’s at stake,” the 21-year-old told one of the victims in a text message, according to court documents. “Do you want your family and everyone in DC to see your tits? Just agree to send me a pic of you in a bra.”
Authorities have said Savader texted the victims—three of whom are from Long Island—from five different Google Voice Numbers using the name “John Smith,” in some cases sending the victims links to hacked nude photos he allegedly posted online.
One of the victims told investigators she knew Savader from their time at Great Neck North High School. Three knew him from his studies at George Washington University.
The investigation began after the first victim, a student at a university in Michigan, reported the alleged extortion to local police, who alerted the FBI, the records show.
Some of the victims reported that before the texts started they were prompted by their email accounts to change their passwords, indicating that they had been hacked.
Federal investigators eventually traced the source of the texts back to Savader’s home, many of the incidents occurring September through November. In one case he threatened to send the victims’ nude photos to the Republican National Committee.
Savader, who was arrested at his parents LI home in April, is expected to be sentenced in March to at least two years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release.
