Nikolay Sapov, a Canadian national, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of felony stalking, marking the culmination of a years-long international pursuit that moved from tennis courts in Florida to a Dallas apartment complex. Federal authorities allege that Sapov’s campaign of intimidation against a former co-worker involved digital surveillance, unwanted gifts, and a chilling physical confrontation where he appeared at the victim’s home wearing a rubber mask, according to reporting by fox4news.com.
The case highlights the severe, life-altering consequences of persistent, cross-border harassment. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould emphasized the gravity of the charges in a statement, noting, “No individual has the right to terrorize another human being or shatter their sense of safety inside their own home.”
From the Miami Open to a Federal Indictment
The relationship between the defendant and the victim began in 2021 while both were working at the Miami Open tennis tournament. While the victim initially felt uncomfortable with his behavior, her father advised her to remain polite, believing Sapov might be on the autism spectrum, fox4news.com reported. This social interaction, however, quickly devolved into a pattern of unwanted obsession.
According to a criminal complaint, Sapov’s conduct included creating an LLC in the victim’s name shortly after they met and attempting to learn Spanish because of his fixation on Argentina, the victim’s home country. By 2023, the behavior escalated into active stalking. The victim received a “star-naming” gift at her apartment, despite never providing Sapov with her address. He also pressured her to travel to Canada to retrieve a bag he claimed to have left behind at the tournament, a tactic that failed to draw her into his sphere of control.
The stalking extended across state lines. The FBI linked Sapov to incidents in Plantation, Florida, in 2023 and Orlando, Florida, in 2025. In the 2023 incident, investigators were able to place him at the scene through a Papa John’s pizza purchase found near the victim’s residence. Throughout this period, Sapov allegedly monitored the social media accounts of the victim and her family to track their residential locations.
The Escalation of Fear in Dallas
The situation reached a breaking point in June 2026. Despite the victim never sharing her address, she discovered Sapov at her apartment complex in Dallas. Dallas police filed a stalking offense report on June 23 after encountering a man matching Sapov’s description, though he was initially released. The following day, he returned to the same complex wearing a rubber mask, fleeing only after being confronted by a neighbor through a Ring doorbell camera, according to yournews.com.
The psychological toll on the victim was immediate and profound. Fearing for her life, she moved to a hotel and purchased a firearm for protection. Even after the physical threats, Sapov continued his harassment by sending AI-generated images of himself and the victim to her.
Law enforcement’s ability to track Sapov proved persistent. On August 22, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers detained him while he was traveling on an Amtrak train toward Canada. A search of his mobile phone revealed photographs of the victim and notes containing her address. Authorities also recovered a Flipper Zero—a multi-tool device often used for radio frequency testing—which investigators noted he had in his possession during the 2025 Orlando incident.
The Legal Stakes for Cross-Border Harassment
The indictment filed against Sapov highlights the federal government’s increasing focus on transnational stalking. “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,” Raybould said. “This indictment makes our position clear: predatory behavior across borders will be met with swift, uncompromising federal justice.”
The FBI has confirmed that they will continue to coordinate with local law enforcement to address such targeted intimidation. “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.”
If convicted, Sapov faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for each count of felony stalking, alongside potential financial penalties and a period of supervised release. As the legal process moves forward, the case shows how digital breadcrumbs—from social media posts to the misuse of technology—can facilitate real-world danger. For now, the victim awaits a resolution that might finally restore the sense of safety shattered by years of pursuit.
