Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini and the Suffolk County Police Department have announced the indictment of a Texas man for allegedly stalking an East Islip woman he met online and for the criminal possession of a loaded weapon upon his arrest.

 

“This is a highly disturbing case, and it highlights a common thread we see in many of our cases in which offenders initiate contact with victims over social media under the guise of friendship and end up causing them harm in some way – whether it’s through harassment, like in this case; sextortion; or even rape,” District Attorney Sini said. “This is a good reminder that people need to be extremely cautious about the people they are communicating with online, and I urge any residents receiving threatening or concerning messages to report it to law enforcement. Thankfully that is exactly what the victim in this case did and the Suffolk County Police Department was able to intervene and apprehend this individual.”

 

“I would like to commend the department’s Third Precinct Crime Section and the District Attorney’s Office for this arrest that finally put an end to the months-long daily harassment by Khan,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. “Thankfully, during a meeting Kahn thought he was having with the victim, he instead met with our officers who seized a loaded firearm from his vehicle.”

 

Adil Khan, 25, of Austin, Texas, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D violent felony; Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor; and Stalking in the Fourth Degree, a class B misdemeanor.

 

Khan initially contacted the victim via Instagram in August 2019 and communicated with her over social media as well as on the phone until December 2019, at which time the victim asked him to stop contacting her. Khan allegedly continued to contact the victim until his arrest on April 3, 2021, sending hundreds of messages a day to her using fictitious accounts on various social media apps and frequently sending her more than 100 text messages in a single day. On one occasion, the victim allegedly received approximately 50,000 social media and text notifications in a single day from Khan.

 

Khan allegedly sent her numerous messages including statements telling the victim to kill herself, as well as messages purportedly from other individuals that she had caused Khan to die by suicide.

 

After the victim changed her phone number in 2020, Khan allegedly used social media to contact the victim’s friends and family members and offer them up to $500 in exchange for her new phone number.

 

On April 3, 2021, the victim’s mother found a handwritten note on the victim’s car, which was parked in the driveway of her home in East Islip, that said “Do I have your attention now?” Khan then sent the victim a message on Instagram that said, “Did you get the card on your windshield wiper?” He later sent another message asking the victim if she would like to meet in person.

 

The victim contacted the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Precinct, whose Crime Section organized a sting operation in which Khan believed he was meeting the victim at the parking lot of a Boston Market located in East Islip. Khan was arrested upon his arrival at the arranged location and law enforcement recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun, a loaded high-capacity magazine, and a box containing additional ammunition for the handgun in his vehicle.

 

Khan was arraigned on the indictment by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz and bail was set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or $100,000 partially-secured bond. The Court also imposed GPS monitoring and ordered Khan not to return to New York except for court dates, if he posts bail. Khan is being represented by Paul D’Emilia and is due back in court on June 7.

 

If convicted of the top count, Khan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Anne E. Oh, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.

 

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.