The name Ryan Vallee doesn’t just represent a single court case in New Hampshire; it’s basically become a case study in how the digital age can turn a quiet neighbor into a federal nightmare. If you live in the Lakes Region or follow true crime on Netflix, you’ve probably heard the broad strokes. But honestly, the sheer scale of what happened in the Belmont and Laconia areas is much more unsettling when you look at the details that don't always make the headlines.
It’s not just a story about hacking. It’s a story about a massive breach of trust in a small community where everyone thought they were safe.
The Hacking Campaign That Shook the Lakes Region
Ryan Vallee was a 2012 graduate of Belmont High School. To most of his classmates, he was just a quiet, somewhat awkward guy. Nobody saw a federal offender in the making. But behind the scenes, starting as early as 2011, Vallee was building a digital web that would eventually ensnare dozens of young women, many of whom he had sat next to in class or seen on the school bus.
He didn't just guess passwords. He was methodical.
By using aliases like "Seth Williams" and "James McRow," Vallee managed to infiltrate Facebook, Instagram, and even Amazon accounts. Imagine waking up and finding out you’re locked out of everything you own online. Now imagine that the person who locked you out is ordering "items of a sexual nature" from your own Amazon account and shipping them to your front door. That’s exactly what happened to his victims.
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How the "Sextortion" Actually Worked
The term "sextortion" gets thrown around a lot, but Vallee’s tactics were particularly cruel. He didn't just want photos; he wanted total control.
- Account Takeovers: He would hijack a victim’s social media and change the recovery information so they couldn't get back in.
- The Impersonation Trap: In one instance, he created a fake Facebook profile that was almost identical to a victim’s name, save for one misspelled letter, and used it to blast private photos to her friends and family.
- The "Helper" Persona: This is the part that really gets people. Vallee actually offered to "help" some of the girls find their stalker. He’d sit there and listen to them vent about being harassed, all while he was the one behind the keyboard.
The 2017 Sentencing and the "Autism Defense"
When the feds finally caught up with him, the case landed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. By 2017, Vallee was facing a 31-count indictment. We’re talking about interstate threats, computer fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
During the trial, his defense team tried to argue that his diagnosis on the autism spectrum meant he didn't fully grasp the emotional impact of his actions. They called it "emotionally stunted."
Judge Paul J. Barbadoro wasn't buying it.
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The judge noted a "stunning lack of empathy," but emphasized that Vallee clearly understood right from wrong. He was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in federal prison. One of the most damning pieces of evidence? Even while he was out on bail awaiting trial, he allegedly continued to victimize girls by piggybacking on a neighbor's Wi-Fi. That's not a lack of understanding; that's a pattern.
Netflix and the "Web of Make Believe"
If the name sounds familiar and you aren't from New Hampshire, you likely saw him on Netflix. The documentary series Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet featured Vallee’s story in its fourth episode, titled "Sextortion."
The show brought national attention to the Belmont case, highlighting how easily a "quiet kid" could use basic technology to dismantle the lives of 23 different women and girls. It served as a grim reminder that the person you're "friends" with on Facebook might not be who they say they are—even if you've known them since kindergarten.
The 2025 Recidivism: Why the Case is Back in the News
For a while, things were quiet. Vallee was released from prison in 2022 and moved to Harrisville. But in a move that shocked even those who followed the original trial, he was arrested again while still on federal supervised release.
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On August 18, 2025, Ryan Vallee, now 31, was sentenced to another 9 years (108 months) in federal prison.
The new charges involved the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Federal agents executed a search warrant on his home and electronics in June 2024, finding hundreds of images and videos on a cellphone and an SD card. U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan labeled him a "recidivist offender." Essentially, the system gave him a chance to reintegrate, and he went right back to the same digital behaviors that landed him in prison the first time.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
| Legal Detail | 2017 Case | 2025 Case |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Charges | Sextortion, Hacking, Threats | Possession of CSAM |
| Sentence Length | 8 Years | 9 Years |
| Victims | 23+ (mostly local classmates) | Digital material/Recidivism |
| Status | Released 2022 | Currently Incarcerated |
What This Means for Digital Safety in NH
Look, New Hampshire is a small state. We like to think these "high-tech" crimes happen in big cities like Boston or New York. This case proves that your physical location doesn't matter if your digital "front door" is unlocked.
If there is any "silver lining" here, it's that the investigation involved a heavy collaboration between the Secret Service, the NH Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and local police departments in Belmont and Harrisville. They are getting better at tracking "spoofing" services and anonymous text apps that guys like Vallee rely on.
Actionable Steps for Online Protection
If you’re worried about similar threats, there are a few things that are basically non-negotiable in 2026:
- Hardware Keys over SMS: Don't rely on text message codes for 2FA. Vallee proved how easy it is to bypass or hijack mobile-linked accounts. Use an app-based authenticator or a physical YubiKey.
- Audit Your "Old" Accounts: Many of Vallee’s victims were compromised through old accounts they hadn't used in years but still had active passwords. If you don't use it, delete it.
- The "Vibe Check": If someone you know is suddenly acting strange online or "offering to help" with a digital problem you didn't ask for, verify it through a different channel (like a phone call or in-person).
- Report to NCMEC: The 2025 arrest happened because of a "cyber tip" to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. If you see something suspicious, report it. It actually works.
The Ryan Vallee story isn't just a local news blip; it's a permanent part of New Hampshire’s legal history regarding digital privacy and predatory behavior. It serves as a stark reminder that in the internet age, the "quiet kid" next door might be operating in a completely different world once the screen turns on.