TOLEDO – A Northwood man will spend more than three years in prison for his scheme to extort money from
Internet daters.
U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary ordered Kevin Zunk, 43, to a total of 41 months in prison for the
scheme.
According to court records, Zunk and his co-defendant, Tonya Blaze, 40, Toledo, would demand money from
people, often gay men, after duping them into thinking they had sent sexually explicit photos and/or
messages to Zunk’s pre-teen son or daughter.
Zunk pleaded guilty to the charges in October.
Zouhary issued the sentence on Friday for 24 months on one count, and 17 months on a second count and
ordered the terms to be served consecutively. The judge ordered a minimum restitution amount of $55,102.
That amount could rise if more victims identify themselves. The restitution was ordered joint and
severally with Blaze. She was sentenced to five years of community control probation sanctions by
Zouhary.
Upon his release, Zunk will serve one year of supervised probation for both counts.
The defendants, who were charged last August, would meet the victims through an Internet dating service,
correspond and eventually convince them to send the photos.
According to the court records, after receiving the messages, the duo would contact the victims and
demand money to avoid reporting the incidents to authorities. Zunk would cite the need to change cell
phone numbers, pay attorneys, or other similar expenses. He reportedly would threaten to expose them,
not only to authorities, but also to their employers if they would not pay.
The victims live in as many as 10 different states.
Zunk was also alleged to have identified himself as an FBI agent or as another investigative authority.
