Lebanon man jailed for online extortion [Video]

LEBANON, Pa. — A Lebanon County man will serve 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to extorting a victim online, prosecutors said Tuesday.

John Anthony Zayas, 35, of Lebanon, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia Rambo at a recent hearing, according to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam.

Zayas previously pleaded guilty to extortion by interstate communication. He admitted to attempting to extort the victim into paying him $150,000 under the threat that he would publish intimate photos and images of them if they did not comply. 

In a pre-sentencing memorandum, Zayas asked Rambo to sentence him to house arrest instead, but the judge refused. 

Zayas will begin serving his sentence in June.

He was also ordered to pay $850 in restitution, Karam said.