Man sentenced to federal prison for cyberstalking roommate

BOSTON — A 24-year-old man accused of tormenting his housemate for more than a year in a calculated cyberstalking campaign has been sentenced.

Ryan Lin was back in federal court on Wednesday to hear from the many victims prosecutors say he tormented for more than a year. Earlier this year, Lin entered pleas of guilty on dozens of cyberstalking counts.

Prosecutors say Lin hacked into one of his new roommate's computers in 2016 and for months, spread her personal information, explicit pictures of her to her friends, coworkers and others. They say Lin also caused chaos in her life by using her credit cards, sending racist emails, and even tried to get her to commit suicide.

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In her impact statement at federal court, the victim told the court Lin also put her life in danger by posting ads on prostitution and violent sex sites, which led to strangers coming to her home.

"The phone in my pocket was a weapon being used against me," she said. "He set me up to be raped or murdered. There was no limit to what he would do."

Lin was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison with five years of supervision after he is released. Lin has to pay back $12,000 to the primary victim.

Lin had also been arrested in connection with a series of bomb threats across Waltham. From July to October 2017, bomb threats were continuously made against public and private schools, as well as daycare centers and other locations across the city.

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