Palm Coast, Fla. (WFLA) — Xbox gamers are accused of committing threats to Florida teenagers, killing him, burning his home and destroying his family, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said.
The two and a half years of investigation began in October 2022, when the then-boy victim began receiving threatening messages from video gamers through the Xbox One console.
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The boy’s father told deputies that an individual known for the gamer tag “Rashafid #5243” sent violent messages and threats. He added that the same person sent a similar message in July 2022 using the then gamertag “XrainbowModsx.”
Some messages include: “Next time you spread the spread room we know we are alive.
According to his father, he had never met this person and communication was limited to Xbox and Snapchat.
The individual was identified as James Maynard, 32, of Maine. Maine noticed that her father had a speech disorder and mentioned living with her mother, the report detailed.
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On February 10, 2025, lawmakers tracked the gamertag to Maynard to see their residency in Maine and their linked email address provided by Microsoft. Google confirmed his identity on March 14th through email-related subscriber information.
On April 1, the victim told authorities that Maynard repeatedly changed his profile and tried to contact him via video chat on social media. Through these chats, the victim identified the 32-year-old through his voice and accent as someone threatening him and his family, the affidavit said.
The victim blocked Maynard after several calls, but the report said Maynard continued his attempts to contact the boy by changing his username and disguising him, and harassing him.
Maynard was arrested April 25th in Maine on charges of writing electronic threats to kill or physically harm another person.
“I praise the main case unit for their hard work and dedication during the last two years of investigation,” Sheriff Rick Staley said. “In this case, I would like to thank the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Waterville Police Department.”
This remains an ongoing investigation. Additional claims may be pending, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
WFLA.com contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to confirm the juvenile’s age and obtained a message.
