Canadian resident indicted on federal stalking charges in Dallas

DALLAS - U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that Nikolay Sapov, also known as Nikolay Georgiyevitch Sapov, was indicted by a federal grand jury on felony stalking charges after allegedly tracking a former coworker from Canada to North Texas.

The two-count indictment charges Sapov with stalking through interstate travel and stalking through electronic communications. Sapov was previously arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on an Amtrak train entering the United States.

"No individual has the right to terrorize another human being or shatter their sense of safety inside their own home," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "From relentless digital harassment to an international stalking campaign that spanned across the globe, this defendant went to chilling lengths to hunt down, disguise himself, and intimidate this victim. This indictment makes our position clear: predatory behavior across borders will be met with swift, uncompromising federal justice."

"Stalking and targeted harassment can have a profound impact, disrupting victims' lives and leaving them feeling vulnerable," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "The FBI remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who use threats and intimidation to instill fear. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect the members of our communities and pursue justice for victims."

According to court filings, Sapov first met the victim several years ago while both were seasonal player services employees at the Miami Open tennis tournament. Over several years, Sapov allegedly developed an obsession with the victim, repeatedly contacting the victim outside of work hours, tracking down personal and family social media profiles, and sending unwanted gifts and correspondence to the victim's residences.

Sapov traveled to Orlando and Plantation, Florida, to stalk her in 2023 and 2025. Court documents allege the conduct escalated in June 2026, when Sapov traveled from Toronto, Canada, to Dallas, Texas, where the victim was residing. After renting a vehicle at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Sapov allegedly located the victim's gated residential complex. On June 22, 2026, the victim observed Sapov loitering near their apartment building. Local law enforcement and property security responded, locating Sapov and issuing a criminal trespass warning.

Two days later, on June 24, 2026, a neighbor's video doorbell captured an individual matching Sapov's physical build, clothing, and footwear approaching the victim's front door while wearing a full rubber mask to conceal his face.

When confronted via the doorbell intercom, the masked suspect fled the premises. Fearing for their safety, the victim and their partner temporarily relocated to emergency hotel lodging and purchased security measures.

Despite the Dallas incident and subsequent police reports, Sapov allegedly continued to send unwanted electronic messages to the victim through August 2026, including an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting the victim posing alongside him.

On Aug. 22, Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Sapov pursuant to a Texas stalking warrant as he was traveling on an Amtrak train from Canada to into the US. Law enforcement recovered electronic equipment and two cellular devices containing maps and street names surrounding the victim's neighborhood, photographs of women's shoes exhibited in an apparent sexual way, and screenshots of key copying/locksmith companies. There were also explicit AI-generated photographs and videos of the adult victim.

If convicted, Sapov faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count, followed by a period of supervised release and potential financial penalties.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office (Violent Crimes Task Force) investigated the case, with substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Dallas Police Department, and the Tyler Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkić from the is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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