Jason M. Frierson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada
A Las Vegas man has admitted to charges of extortion, money laundering, stalking, and sending threatening text messages. Idriss Qibaa, 28, entered a guilty plea on February 21 in a case involving threats to harm two individuals and their families in California.
Qibaa was charged with one count of extortion, two counts of money laundering, one count of stalking, and two counts of interstate communications containing a threat to injure. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II is set to sentence him on May 22, 2025.
Court documents reveal that on April 29, 2024, Qibaa extorted $200,000 from a victim using threats. As part of this scheme, he acquired $63,500 worth of cryptocurrency on March 7 and 8, 2024. In June and July 2024, Qibaa used online messages to cause significant emotional distress to his victims. On July 19 and July 24 of the same year, he sent text messages threatening harm to a victim and their family members.
Qibaa could face up to 20 years in prison for the extortion charge; each money laundering charge carries a potential sentence of 10 years; the stalking charge could result in five years; and each charge related to interstate communications containing threats could lead to five years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI along with the Beverly Hills Police Department.
