A federal grand jury has indicted a California state prison inmate and a Las Vegas woman on charges they conspired to extort and stalk a Washington state victim, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.

The two-count indictment, returned Thursday, charges D’Andre Davis, 39, formerly of Stockton, and Nicole Nowak, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada, with conspiracy to extort money by means of threatening communications and stalking. Davis is also charged with a separate count of stalking the same victim.

According to court documents, Davis began contacting the victim in July 2021 through Instagram and Facebook while he was serving a sentence in a California state prison. The victim initially engaged in a consensual online relationship but later attempted to end contact when Davis began repeatedly demanding money.

Authorities said Davis used contraband cellphones and an inmate telephone and messaging service to communicate with the victim while incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison.

In May 2024, prosecutors allege Nowak joined the scheme, and the two defendants threatened to send compromising images shared by the victim to the victim’s business associates, clients, family members and friends unless payments continued. The victim ultimately sent more than $35,000 before contacting the FBI.

The FBI and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Office of Internal Affairs investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting.

A federal magistrate judge ordered Nowak detained as a danger to the community on June 16 and Davis remains incarcerated. Both are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Fresno at a later date.

If convicted, Davis and Nowak each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. Davis also faces an additional five years on the stalking charge.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.