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A very popular Haitian TikTok influencer, Mendel Raphael, has been arrested in Orange County, Florida, after authorities issued a warrant accusing him of being involved in a criminal conspiracy that allegedly included extortion, stalking, and public order crimes connected to a disturbing online harassment case.
According to court documents filed with the Orange County Clerk of Courts, the arrest stems from a detailed investigation conducted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Dale Brown, who led the case, submitted an affidavit describing how Mendel Raphael, known online as @mendel_tou_lumen, allegedly used social media to threaten and extort a woman after obtaining explicit videos and images of her.
The report states that the victim had recently ended a two-month relationship with a man named Jameslee Fleurand. After the breakup, she began receiving messages from people associated with him, including individuals identified as Mendel Raphael and Revenel Pauleus. These messages demanded money in exchange for keeping private photographs from being posted online.
Investigators say the victim first learned of the harassment when friends alerted her to TikTok videos where the influencer allegedly showed her photos and spoke about her publicly. In one of the videos, he reportedly said he possessed nude footage of her and demanded she contact him “to negotiate” if she did not want the material shared with others. In another post, he allegedly mocked her and showed images of her with her ex-boyfriend, calling her names and implying immoral behavior.
Further investigation revealed that one of Raphael’s associates, Revenel Pauleus, contacted the victim directly through WhatsApp and demanded $3,000 to prevent the release of her private videos. Those videos, according to the affidavit, were recorded during intimate moments, some without her knowledge or consent. Police determined that the photos and videos were shared between the men and used as leverage in an extortion scheme designed to humiliate and financially exploit her.
Law enforcement traced the TikTok account’s phone number to Raphael’s business line registered with T-Mobile and matched it to his name, address, and identification records in New York. Authorities found that Raphael and Pauleus had previously lived at the same address, and that their connection extended beyond social media activity.
On October 21, 2025, Mendel Raphael turned himself in to authorities at the Orange County Booking and Release Center after the warrant was confirmed. Court filings show that the charges include:
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Criminal Conspiracy (Florida Statute 777.04)
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Extortion (Florida Statute 836.05)
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Stalking (Florida Statute 784.048)
He was booked into custody with no bond set on any of the charges. The court also ordered that he have no contact with the victim, not post anything online about the victim or the case, and avoid all access to social media platforms while awaiting legal proceedings.
The investigation alleges that Raphael conspired with the other suspects to extort money by threatening to expose the victim’s private images and reputation for financial gain. The affidavit described the victim as deeply traumatized, noting that she moved to a new address out of fear and shame following the online exposure and repeated threats.
If convicted, Raphael could face serious prison time under Florida law, as extortion and criminal conspiracy are classified as felonies.
The case has drawn widespread attention within the Haitian online community, as Raphael was known for his controversial and outspoken social media presence. Many of his followers, particularly on TikTok, have expressed shock at the allegations. Others have criticized the growing trend of influencers using their platforms to publicly humiliate or exploit others for personal benefit.
This arrest highlights a broader issue around digital harassment and online blackmail, particularly in communities where social media personalities hold significant influence. Law enforcement officials say the case serves as a warning that online behavior is not beyond the reach of criminal law, and that the misuse of private content can lead to serious legal consequences.
As of now, Mendel Raphael remains in custody at the Orange County Jail without bond. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors are expected to present the case in the coming weeks.
OpaMusic.com will continue to monitor this story as more details unfold.
TikToker Ayisyen ki trè popilè arete nan Florid pou ekstòsyon ak swivi
Yon TikToker ayisyen ki trè popilè, Mendel Raphael, jwenn arestasyon li nan Orange County, Florid, apre otorite yo te bay yon manda akizasyon kont li pou konplo kriminèl, ekstòsyon ak swivi ki gen rapò ak yon ka arasman sou entènèt.
Dapre dokiman tribinal yo ki anrejistre nan Orange County Clerk of Courts, arestasyon an fèt apre yon ankèt detaye pa Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Dapre afidavi Depite Dale Brown, ki mennen ankèt la, Mendel Raphael, ki pi konnen sou rezo sosyal TikTok kòm @mendel_tou_lumen, te sèvi ak kont li sou entènèt pou menase yon fanm epi chache lajan nan men li apre li te jwenn videyo ak foto prive li yo.
Rapò a di viktim nan te fèk fini yon relasyon de mwa ak yon nonm yo idantifye kòm Jameslee Fleurand. Apre yo te separe, viktim nan te kòmanse resevwa mesaj menasan nan men moun ki asosye ak li, enkli Mendel Raphael ak Revenel Pauleus. Mesaj sa yo te mande lajan an echanj pou yo pa pibliye foto prive li sou entènèt.
Ankèt la montre viktim nan te vin konnen sa lè zanmi l te avèti li ke gen videyo TikTok kote enfliyanse a t ap montre foto li ak ap pale de li piblikman. Nan youn nan videyo yo, li ta di li gen videyo prive sou li epi mande l pou kontakte li “pou negosye” si li pa vle foto yo vin piblik. Nan yon lòt videyo, li ta fè blag sou li epi montre foto li ak ansyen mennaj li pandan li t ap jije l ak move pawòl.
Pi ta, ankèt la revele ke youn nan asosye Raphael yo, Revenel Pauleus, te kontakte viktim nan dirèkteman sou WhatsApp epi mande $3,000 dola ameriken pou l pa lage videyo prive yo sou entènèt. Videyo sa yo, dapre polis la, te fèt pandan moman entim ak ansyen mennaj li, kèk nan yo san konsantman li. Otorite yo kwè foto ak videyo sa yo te sikile ant mesye yo epi te sèvi kòm zouti pou fè lajan ak imilye fanm nan.
Anketè yo te rive konekte kont TikTok la ak nimewo telefòn biznis ki sou non Mendel Raphael e ki anrejistre ak T-Mobile. Enfòmasyon adrès ak idantite yo te konfime se li menm. Yo jwenn tou ke Raphael ak Pauleus te deja viv nan menm adrès anvan, sa ki montre relasyon sere ant yo.
Sou 21 oktòb 2025, Mendel Raphael te rann tèt li bay otorite yo nan Orange County Booking and Release Center apre manda arestasyon an te konfime. Dapre dosye tribinal la, li akize pou:
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Konplo Kriminèl (Florida Statute 777.04)
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Ekstòsyon (Florida Statute 836.05)
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Swivi ak Arasman (Florida Statute 784.048)
Li te mete anba kòd ak pa gen okenn kosyon sou okenn nan akizasyon yo. Tribinal la bay kondisyon strik ki entèdi li antre an kontak ak viktim nan, poste nenpòt bagay sou entènèt ki gen rapò ak viktim nan oswa ka a, epi pa itilize okenn rezo sosyal pandan pwosesis legal la ap kontinye.
Afidavi a di Raphael te konplote ak lòt moun pou pran lajan nan men viktim nan atravè menas pou ekspoze foto prive li epi sal repitasyon li. Viktim nan, dapre dokiman yo, sibi gwo chòk emosyonèl epi li oblije deplase pou l kache apre menas ak imilyasyon piblik yo.
Si Mendel Raphael ta jwenn koupab, li kapab fè fas ak yon tan prizon konsiderab dapre lwa Florid, paske ekstòsyon ak konplo kriminèl se krim grav (felony).
Ka sa a kreye gwo reyaksyon nan kominote ayisyen an, espesyalman sou rezo sosyal kote Raphael te gen anpil popilarite. Anpil moun te choke aprann nouvèl la, pandan lòt yo kritike fason kèk enfliyanse itilize platfòm yo pou imilye oswa manipile lòt moun pou pwofi pèsonèl.
Ka sa a raple ke arasman dijital ak chantaj sou entènèt se krim ki gen konsekans reyèl. Lapolis avèti ke zak konsa pa kache dèyè ekran, epi nenpòt moun ki itilize kontni prive pou fè presyon sou lòt yo kapab jwenn pwosedi legal kont yo.
Pou kounye a, Mendel Raphael rete nan prizon Orange County san kosyon, pandan pwokirè yo ap prepare pou prezante ka a nan tribinal. OpaMusic.com ap kontinye swiv devlopman dosye sa a pou kenbe piblik la enfòme sou sa k ap vini.
