Judge Sentences Cyberstalker to 46 Months in Prison

A federal court in Pittsburgh handed down the prison term following the defendant's guilty plea to 11 counts of cyberstalking.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Cybersecurity

Bold flat-color editorial illustration in navy and cream, featuring a single geometric column silhouette, representing federal judicial authority. — A federal judge in Pittsburgh sentenced Brett Dadig to 46 months in prison on Tuesday following his guilty plea to cyberstalking 11 victims. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

A federal judge sentenced Brett Dadig to 46 months in prison for cyberstalking and harassment. The court also ordered three years of supervised release for the defendant.

Why it matters

The sentencing concludes a case involving repeated harassment across multiple states, with the court specifically weighing the defendant's mental health in its decision.

The sentence falls within the federal guideline range of 41 to 51 months. The defendant, who faced 11 counts of cyberstalking, will serve the 46-month term followed by three years of supervised release.

The players

Brett Dadig

He is the 31-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and harassment.

The details

Dadig used social media platforms and a podcast to disseminate explicit content and personal information about his 11 victims. He also frequently appeared at the workplaces of his victims to intimidate them, often violating established Protection From Abuse orders.

Dadig began experiencing symptoms of mental illness in 2024.
The defendant was charged in federal court on November 8, 2025.
Dadig pleaded guilty to 11 counts in March 2026.
The judge sentenced Dadig to 46 months in prison on October 20, 2026.

The Tech Race

This case highlights the growing reliance on digital platforms for targeted criminal behavior and the legal system's evolution in addressing these new vectors of abuse. It demonstrates how federal authorities now track cross-state digital stalking as seriously as physical threats.

This sentencing serves as a reminder for social media users to tighten privacy settings to limit the personal information available to bad actors. It also underscores the importance of reporting digital harassment early to law enforcement before it escalates to in-person intimidation.

The takeaway

Cyberstalking cases involving multi-state harassment are increasingly being met with strict federal prison sentences. Individuals who experience online harassment should document all interactions and pursue legal protection orders to establish a record for law enforcement.