Texting self backfires
Jeanne Mundango Manunga and her boyfriend broke up in 2008. The 25-year-old didn’t take it well and decided to get even with him. Jeanne purchased a pre-paid cell phone in the name of the boyfriend’s sister-in-law and began to send herself threatening messages.
On at least 19 occasions she went to three different police stations to report the threats. As a result, her two targets were arrested for making criminal threats. Both had to post thousands of dollars for bail. The sister-in-law was arrested three times and spent time in jail before she could raise enough money to post bail.
Jeanne Mundango
The police investigated the case and uncovered Jeanne’s role. She was charged with numerous offenses and convicted by a jury of false imprisonment [for the arrest of her victims] and making false reports to the police. In July, 2010, she was sentenced to one year in jail, three years probation and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to the victims. They were both present at sentencing and commented that they were devastated by the arrests and were concerned about clearing their names.
Another text that backfired involved 26-year-old Shawn Means of Martinsville, Indiana. In December, 2010, Shawn sent two text messages to Courtney Swank offering to sell her drugs. The messages read “roxy twenties fifteen” and “Hey buddy just wonderin if you needed any fortys.” Both messages refer to oxycodone, a prescription drug. Deputy prosecutor Swank notified the police and Shawn was arrested and charged with possession and dealing in a controlled substance as well as public drunkenness. He was located in the back seat of his car and now faces a maximum of ten years in prison.
