Detectives Arrest Deltona Man, Charge Him With Extorting Woman in UK

Date Added: August 13, 2019 1:18 pm

Laura Williams, Office of
Public Affairs & Media Relations

DELTONA RESIDENT ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH EXTORTION
Suspect, 37, Arrested After Victim in UK Alerts Sheriff’s Detectives

A 37-year-old Deltona resident has been arrested on charges that he extorted more than $8,000 from a woman he met online after he threatened to send photos and videos of her to her husband, family and employer.

Christian George Smith (DOB 10/25/1981) was arrested early today at his home, 607 Anderson Drive, Deltona. He is charged with extortion and illegal use of credit cards. He was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail where he remains held on $25,000 bail. 

The victim lives in South Wales, United Kingdom. Just a week ago, she emailed the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and pleaded with detectives to investigate, saying she is being blackmailed by a Deltona resident whom she met online five years ago.

The victim told sheriff’s detectives the relationship was platonic until this year when the pair considered dating each other. However, soon after, the victim decided not to pursue a relationship with Smith, because she is married and wanted to work on her marriage.

After her decision, the woman told detectives, Smith began threatening and coercing her into paying him large sums of money in exchange for his silence, including his child support debt. 

She told detectives that between July 9, 2019, and July 19, 2019, Smith made written threats and recorded video/audio threats, coerced and intimidated her into paying him $8,714 in exchange for him not to send photos and videos to her husband, family and workplace.

On July 20, the woman told her husband the truth about Smith. That prompted Smith to threaten her husband as well, both in audio recordings and on social media, if she didn’t pay him.

Despite her paying Smith, he has continued threatening her and contacted her place of employment – a funeral company, and filed false claims against her. Due to those allegations, she is suspended from her job and an internal investigation began.

In addition, on Aug. 3, Smith accessed her credit card and charged more than $2,000.

Through this investigation, detectives suspect there may be more victims of extortion. Anyone who may have been involved with this suspect is encouraged to contact Volusia Sheriff’s Detective Paul via email at jpaul@vcso.us.