A 19-year-old Michigan woman has been sentenced for fabricating a series of threatening messages to frame her ex-boyfriend and his friend, a scheme that involved the use of artificial intelligence. Rida Rustam pleaded guilty this week to multiple charges, including making a false report of a felony, using a computer to commit a crime, lying to an officer, and stalking.
Rustam initially reported to police that she had received menacing emails and messages from her ex-boyfriend, Kumayl Raza, and his friend, Ibraheem Haq. The fabricated communications included explicit threats of violence and arson. The false allegations led to Raza being charged with aggravated stalking in April 2025, with the charges later upgraded to adult felonies. Haq was charged in juvenile court with aggravated stalking and malicious use of a telecommunications device.
The investigation into Rustam's claims saw Raza's home raided by SWAT teams while he was forced to stand outside in his pajamas. His legal team later hired a digital forensic expert, Avery Thompson, who discovered that Rustam had been sending the threatening messages to herself. Thompson's findings indicated that Rustam had used an AI engine to generate some of the fabricated messages and had employed a VPN to mask her online activity.
Rustam's deception involved presenting police with numerous screenshots, emails, text messages, and even handwritten notes as evidence. The digital forensic expert stated that the case exposed "the dark side of AI" and cautioned law enforcement about the potential for fabricated evidence.
In court, Rustam admitted to her role in the scheme and was sentenced to 30 months of probation and six days in the Wayne County Jail. Her attorney, Mark Haidar, argued that Rustam was motivated to move past the incident and had addressed mental health issues. Haidar also criticized the Plymouth Township Police Department for not verifying Rustam's claims more thoroughly before pursuing charges against Raza and Haq.
The case highlights the growing concern over the use of AI in creating convincing fake evidence and its implications for the justice system. As AI technology becomes more integrated into daily life, experts warn that law enforcement must exercise increased caution when evaluating digital evidence presented to them.