Thomas Christopher Ball {PBSO}
A Coral Springs man was arrested after deputies say he used AI-generated images for nude blackmail and threatened to shoot a teen coworker, according to investigators.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office records show Thomas Christopher Ball, 49, was arrested April 17. An arrest warrant for Ball had been issued on April 8 by a Palm Beach County judge after investigators established probable cause.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the investigation began after a 17-year-old coworker reported Ball’s behavior to authorities. The teen told deputies the two worked together at Boca West Country Club, where she was employed in the fitness department, and Ball worked in engineering as a painter.
The victim said that Ball had obtained her Instagram account months earlier and had initially followed her with permission. However, his messages allegedly became sexual in nature. During one phone call, Ball allegedly described sexual acts and offered to pay her $200 in exchange for her address, investigators wrote in the report.
The teen told deputies she attempted to distance herself, but Ball continued to contact her through Instagram and other means.
In March, Ball allegedly sent the victim an image flagged for nudity that investigators said was a screenshot from one of her TikTok videos that had been altered using artificial intelligence to depict her nude. The victim said the original video was posted in 2023, when she was approximately 13 or 14 years old.
Investigators said Ball later claimed to have additional images and threatened to expose them if she did not continue speaking with him. The affidavit also states that Ball continued contacting the teen after being blocked, allegedly using different phone numbers and messaging platforms.
Ball allegedly continued messaging the teen, telling her he loved her, would do anything for her, and wanted to “take her to a spa and spoil her,” while offering to give her $1,000, according to the report.
At one point, he also sent a message that read, “This is Tommy, did you really block me and call the police on me?” investigators said.
Later in March, Sunrise Police responded after a friend of Ball called 911, reporting that he had gone to her home attempting to get a firearm to “shoot the girl who made him lose his job,” the report states.
A Sunrise officer later confirmed Ball was Baker Acted on March 12 after he was described as intoxicated and making threats, according to the report.
Ball denied making any statements about wanting to shoot the girl, investigators noted.
Detectives also reviewed financial records, including Zelle transactions, which showed Ball sent the teen multiple payments. Investigators said the messages and payments were consistent with grooming behavior.
The victim told investigators the situation took a significant toll on her, saying she was unable to sleep or eat when the incidents first began and had to leave work early one day because she could not function.
Following a review of messages, images, and other evidence, detectives determined there was probable cause to support the charges.
Ball was taken into custody and booked into the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center, where he is held on $75,000 bond.
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