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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 7, 2010

Internet threats alleged


Advertiser Staff

Prosecutors are calling it a case of "cyber extortion."

Brandon W. Fujihara, 31, of Kailua, threatened to send nude photos of a woman to her employer "if she did not meet his demands," Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter said in court yesterday.

When the victim did not respond to a second demand the next day, Fujihara allegedly "sent nude photographs to the employer's server," the prosecutor said.

Van Marter declined to specify what demands Fujihara allegedly made of the woman.

Fujihara used an unsecured wireless router that he accessed in Kailua near his residence to send his demands from an anonymous e-mail account he established, Van Marter said.

The defendant also signed up for several pornographic website subscriptions, paying with the woman's bank account, Van Marter said.

"That triggered monthly deductions from the victim's account to pay for those subscriptions," Van Marter said.

"Eventually the police traced the IP (internet protocol) address back to the wireless router linked to the suspect," Van Marter said.

Fujihara provided a partial confession to some of the criminal acts, the prosecutor said.

Fujihara was indicted on charges including extortion, theft and unlawful use of a computer.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins set bail at $25,000.

Van Marter said Fujihara has no previous criminal record.