NORFOLK, Va. – A North Bethesda, Maryland man was sentenced on June 7 to eight years and four months in prison for an extensive cyberstalking campaign targeting multiple victims over a year and a half.
Joseph Bourabah, 27, harassed and stalked his victims from September 2021 to February 2023, impacting not only the victims but also their families, tenants, and former employers. According to court documents, his campaign included hundreds of incidents such as fake Craigslist ads, false Facebook postings, fraudulent events on Eventbrite, and the hiring of unwanted services.
The harassment began in September 2021 when Bourabah, using a fake account, shared pornographic content and false accusations about a victim on Facebook. The following months saw him escalating his actions by sending pornographic videos of the victim to their family members and friends. From November 2021 to October 2022, Bourabah repeatedly emailed the victim, including one instance where he linked to a pornographic website featuring videos of the victim, revealing their true name and past employers.
One particularly egregious incident involved Bourabah targeting the victim’s mother. He posted pornographic videos on her social media accounts and created a Craigslist ad in February 2022 offering her pet ducks for free, leading to their removal. He also listed her trampoline on Craigslist, resulting in its theft from her property.
Bourabah’s malicious activities extended to another victim by advertising their car for free on Craigslist and attempting to have it towed. In January 2023, he organized a fake party titled “[Victim’s Name] Pedo Kink Party,” using the victim’s picture and home address. Bourabah’s email on December 26, 2021, to the victim stated, “I’m never going to stop. I’ll be trolling your children’s babysitter 10 years from now.”
Additionally, Bourabah harassed the victim’s mother by creating ads for various fake events, including a Halloween costume party, a New Year’s Eve party, and an open house event. He also ordered unsolicited services to her home, such as tree cutting, carpet cleaning, junk removal, and towing. On one occasion, a tow driver removed a barricade from her driveway to tow her vehicle. Bourabah’s harassment further extended to the tenants in her rental properties.