JSO looks for possible victims after man arrested for sex crimes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is asking for victims to come forward after they made an arrest of a man on May 8.

Tyler De La Cruz, 30, was arrested on four counts of extortion and three counts of sexual battery.

According to the arrest report, JSO was notified by St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office on May 7 that Cruz was extorting and sexually battering a suspect over the course of five years. The victim told police that she and Cruz talked on social media in 2015 and she sent nude photos to Cruz and they did have one consensual sexual encounter. However, she did not want to continue the relationship.

The victim told police that Cruz then demanded $1,000 from her or else he would send the photos to her family. She paid him and didn’t hear from him again until this past February. Cruz then contacted the victim and between February and May 4, 2020, he demanded an additional $4,500. The arrest report shows he also demanded oral sex in addition to the money or else he would expose the photos.

On May 4, the report states Cruz demanded $1,500 from the victim. She only gave him $200 because that’s all she had. On May 6, she notified St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. On May 8, Cruz allegedly contacted the victim saying that she needed to bring the rest of the money if she “wanted to avoid people getting hurt or heartbroken”. He gave a location where she could meet him, and he was instead met by police and was subsequently arrested.

Police say that they believe there may be other victims. Anyone with any information is asked to contact JSO at 904-630-0500.