Couple blackmailed intellectually disabled Chick-fil-A greeter into suicide
Inset, clockwise from top left: Christopher John Tsoulos (Kenneth W. Poe Funeral Services), Trysten Anthony Cullon (York County Sheriff) and Jade Stone (Charleston County Sheriff). Background: Chick-fil-A security footage showing Tsoulos giving his phone to Cullon (federal court documents).
A North Carolina couple who admitted to running a blackmail and extortion plot against a man with an intellectual disability — a scheme that ended with the victim’s death by suicide — has been sentenced in federal court.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. sentenced 27-year-olds Trysten Anthony Cullon and Jade Ashlynn Stone to prison after both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking. Cullon received a 41-month sentence, while Stone was ordered to serve 27 months behind bars.
Prosecutors said the two targeted Christopher John Tsoulos, a 37-year-old man from Charlotte who had an intellectual disability and depended heavily on his family. Authorities described the harassment campaign as brief but deeply damaging.
“This couple intentionally tormented a young man with intellectual disabilities for personal enrichment,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis. “Christopher’s life cannot be replaced, and his family will always carry this loss. We hope the sentence offers some measure of justice.”
According to court records, the plan began on Sept. 5, 2024, when Cullon approached Tsoulos while he was working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Charlotte.
Around 4:52 p.m., Tsoulos allowed Cullon to borrow his phone. Cullon used it to message Stone, telling her to come pick him up and describing the situation as urgent. He then walked out of the restaurant with the phone and returned to Stone, who was waiting in a car outside. Investigators later learned that earlier that same day the pair had created a new Gmail account and set up a Cash App account to help carry out their plan.
Because Tsoulos had handed over an unlocked phone, the two were able to access various financial applications connected to it, including mobile payment services and his bank account. Prosecutors said they attempted to move money from Tsoulos’ accounts through services such as Cash App and PayPal, as well as directly from his bank account.
When they were unable to successfully transfer funds, the scheme shifted to intimidation.
Using the stolen phone, Cullon and Stone began sending threatening messages to Tsoulos’ relatives and people in his life. The messages accused him of being a “pervert” and warned that damaging allegations would be shared with his employer and others.
One message sent to a family member stated that their son was a “pervert” and threatened to expose him to his workplace and the rest of his family. The sender added that unless compensation was provided, they would “ruin him” and embarrass the family.
Court filings show the pair demanded $300 through Cash App and warned that the accusations would be sent to Tsoulos’ employer if payment was not made. Additional threats included claims that he harassed women, visited brothels, paid for sexual images, and engaged in sexual activity with minors.
Federal prosecutors said the harassment lasted only a few days — between Sept. 5 and Sept. 8, 2024 — but had tragic consequences.
On Sept. 8, Tsoulos shot himself on the front steps of his Charlotte home. His father discovered his body the next morning.
Authorities concluded that the cyberstalking and extortion campaign pushed him to take his life, devastating his family.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said the emotional toll of the case was evident in court.
“There was not a dry eye in the courtroom,” Ferguson said after the sentencing.
Federal officials also stated that Cullon and Stone exploited a vulnerable person in order to obtain money and support their drug addiction.
“Cullon and Stone turned to preying on the most vulnerable among us,” Ferguson said.
In addition to their prison terms, both defendants must serve three years of supervised release and pay $26,699.65 in restitution.
According to The Charlotte Observer, more than 60 friends and relatives of Tsoulos filled the courtroom during the sentencing, while additional supporters waited outside.
Tsoulos’ obituary described him as someone who brought joy and kindness to those around him. Known for his generous spirit, he spent years helping at John’s Family Restaurant as a “co-owner,” where he focused on making guests feel welcome. More recently, he worked as a host at Chick-fil-A, a role that reflected his love of helping others and his natural ability to make people feel valued and appreciated.
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