By Dick LaFontaine
Investigative journalist Richard Luthmann filed papers to quash a federal subpoena received earlier this week, only to find himself at the center of a press freedom battle with SCOTUS Doxxer and TikTok influencer Danesh Noshirvan.
Luthmann is covering two related lawsuits that have now become a public spectacle of digital harassment and litigation. They pit Noshirvan against plastic surgeon Dr. Ralph Garramone and his wife, Jennifer Couture, in what has become a showdown on the wide-open legal frontiers of Doxxing, Cancel Culture, and the Internet.
Noshirvan’s lawyer had his process server deliver a detailed request for documents to Luthmann, a nationally recognized journalist and contributor to this outlet, as court proceedings wrapped up on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle Dudek in Fort Myers federal court.
At stake are growing concerns over social media’s unchecked power and perceptions about the courts’ authority to manage private legal matters in the digital age effectively.
Noshirvan, who was infamous for doxxing U.S. Supreme Court justices following the decision overturning Roe v. Wade, commands a substantial online following, mainly on TikTok. He has used his platform “to mobilize” followers for “social justice” issues.
After Danesh obtained, edited, and published an interaction caught on video between Couture and another woman, the “Cancel Culture Mob” pounced. The ongoing legal battle began with allegations from Garramone and Couture that Noshirvan targeted them with online harassment, spreading damaging information about them to his millions of followers and sparking waves of negative online reviews.
Norshirvan published a series of videos about Jennifer Couture. However, they were heavily edited from their original form and intentionally admitted relevant activity, particularly incitement by the woman filming the interaction, identified as Anjlyke Reed. The edited video made it appear like Couture was trying to run Reed down with her SUV.
The impact devastated the Fort Myers resident’s personal and professional life.
Danesh’s social media mob caused Couture, her husband Ralph Garramone, and Garramone Plastic Surgery devastating harm, including relentless harassment, reputational damage, and financial losses exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars. The media frenzy and inundation of phone calls, emails, and social media posts and messages of the local government apparatus also led to Couture’s arrest by Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno. State Attorney Amira Fox charged Couture with assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, burglary, and battery.
In response to Norshirvan’s social media campaign against them, Garramone and Couture filed a lawsuit.
Luthmann, who lives in the Fort Myers area, began covering the case last year after Professor Eugene Volokh identified it as legally meaningful about Internet law, social media, and the limits of doxxing. In preparation for his continuing series of articles, he spoke with Couture, Garramone, Noshirvan, Chiapetta, and others related to the case.
“In the beginning, I thought Danesh was the ‘white hat.’ In 2021, Columbia University awarded Darnella Frazier the Pulitzer Prize ‘[f]or courageously recording the murder of George Floyd.’ I saw Danesh as no different than any other citizen journalist,” Luthmann said. “I was wrong. He’s no journalist. He hurts people for personal profit. Danesh Noshirvan is dangerous. His business model is harassment and intimidation laced with dishonesty and fraud.”
Luthmann claims Danesh’s recent subpoena is “an orchestrated campaign of intimidation” and retaliatory attempt to silence his reporting on the controversial activities Luthmann discovered while investigating the TikToker.
Allegations Against Noshirvan
Luthmann’s reporting has focused on Noshirvan’s alleged misconduct as a TikTok influencer, claiming over two million followers. He says some estimate models show that almost half (50%) of the users are simulated, fake, and/or bots. Conservative estimates say that one in four (25%) of Noshirvan’s followers are fake.
His total number of actual followers is also questionable. While he purports a TikTok account with 2 million followers, auditing tools used to hire influencers list his actual following at 1.1 million,
Luthmann says the “fake follower fiasco” is just the tip of the iceberg. His investigation reveals serious, detailed harm and apparent criminality.
SCOTUS Doxxing and OnlyFans Deplatforming
Following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, Danesh Noshirvan allegedly escalated his reputation for digital vigilantism by disseminating the home addresses of conservative justices. This deliberate act, shared with his substantial TikTok following, incited protests outside the justices’ homes and heightened public tension.
The disclosure led to credible threats against the justices, forcing law enforcement to increase security measures and raising serious questions about the safety of federal officials. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in particular, faced an assassination attempt directly tied to the backlash spurred by the publicizing of his private residence.
Critics argue that Noshirvan’s actions crossed a dangerous line (18 U.S.C. § 115), weaponizing sensitive information to incite unrest and threatening the lives of high-ranking judicial officials.
As stated in his filed court papers, Richard Luthmann’s investigative reporting uncovered evidence suggesting that Danesh Noshirvan may have violated federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. §§ 2257 and 2257A, by failing to file required model releases for content featured on his OnlyFans page. These regulations are critical for ensuring that individuals depicted in adult material are of legal age and have provided informed consent.
The absence of such documentation raises serious concerns about potential exploitation, including forced labor and sex trafficking, and highlights the risk of underage individuals being involved without proper safeguards.
Designed to deter and detect exploitation, particularly of children, these legal requirements underscore the gravity of the alleged violations. Noshirvan’s failure to comply casts doubt on his platform’s ethical management and exposes him to potential criminal liability, further tarnishing his reputation as a controversial digital figure.
Harassment Campaigns: The Victims of Danesh
Danesh Noshirvan’s social media campaigns have left a devastating trail of harm, targeting individuals from various walks of life, including healthcare workers, educators, small business owners, and grieving families. His platform, built on doxxing and inciting harassment, often directs his vast online following to relentlessly attack his targets, causing reputational damage, emotional distress, and even physical threats.
Luthmann’s reporting has identified over 200 victims impacted by Noshirvan’s harassment campaigns, which often extend to family members and estates of deceased individuals. The cumulative effect of these attacks highlights a calculated effort to exploit social media for intimidation and personal gain, with devastating emotional, financial, and reputational consequences.
TikTok Influencer @ThatDaneshGuy’s ‘Accountability’ Videos Connected to Suicide; Police Investigate
Aaron De La Torre:
A high school football coach in Texas, De La Torre became a target of one of Noshirvan’s campaigns after being falsely accused and smeared online. The barrage of harassment and threats that followed drove De La Torre to suicide, underscoring the lethal consequences of these digital attacks. The Frank Report broke the story that Noshirvan was under criminal investigation for his role in De La Torre’s death.
Nigel Ford:
After a minor traffic incident, Ford was labeled abusive and violent by Noshirvan, leading to an onslaught of harassment, including death threats. Despite Ford’s employer refusing to terminate him under public pressure, the harassment persists, fueled by Noshirvan’s allegations that the threats were fabricated.
Cortney Kotzian (OmahaOracle):
Kotzian faced harassment after declining help from Noshirvan, who alleged she was “stalking herself” while documenting her experiences with a former colleague. Noshirvan’s narrative dismissed concerns about her alleged stalker, a convicted child sexual assailant, and diverted attention from her advocacy against harassment.
Jennifer Couture and Garramone Plastic Surgery:
Noshirvan falsely portrayed Florida mother Jennifer Couture as an aggressor in a parking lot altercation, using selectively edited videos to incite harassment. This led to her family and her husband’s medical practice, Garramone Plastic Surgery, facing relentless abuse and threats, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue and significant security costs.
China Casarin:
Casarin became a target after discussing the harassment directed at Jen Welch, which culminated in Welch’s suicide attempt. Noshirvan accused Casarin of racism and predatory behavior, while impersonation accounts were created to harass her further. Her professional information was used maliciously, and reports to the Pennsylvania State Police have not yielded action.
KC Davis:
A licensed professional counselor, Davis was labeled a racist by Noshirvan after she described him as a “psychological terrorist.” Troll accounts, suspected to be connected to Noshirvan, flooded her platform, and he even threatened to report her to the Texas licensing board to revoke her therapy license.
Jen Welch (JenTheAdvocate):
Once an ally of Noshirvan, Welch became a target after their relationship soured. Facing compounded personal and professional challenges, Welch attempted suicide on December 31, 2021. Noshirvan dismissed the attempt as a hoax and launched a crowdfunding campaign threatening legal action against those discussing the incident, which never materialized.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and State Prosecutor Amira Fox:
They found themselves targeted by Danesh Noshirvan’s disinformation campaigns and cancel culture mob, which weaponized social media to spread false narratives and manipulate public opinion. Noshirvan’s tactics included amplifying fabricated claims and rallying his massive following to inundate local government systems with harassment, forcing the wheels of justice to grind to a halt under the weight of bad-faith complaints. The manipulation of local institutions to serve his agenda highlights a troubling vulnerability in the justice system. It becomes even more alarming when paired with allegations that Noshirvan could be acting as an agent of a foreign enemy, raising questions about whether his campaigns are part of a broader effort to sow discord and undermine U.S. institutional integrity.
Katherine Fung:
Recently, the Newsweek journalist was inundated with harassment after Noshirvan accused her of collaborating with individuals he targeted. Following his accusations, her social media was flooded with hostile comments, forcing her to disable interaction features to protect herself from further abuse.
Healthcare Workers and Educators:
Noshirvan’s campaigns have also targeted professionals like Dr. Edith Del Mar Behr (Pennsylvania), Dr. Ryne Paulson (Wyoming), and educators such as Keshia Brinkerhoff (Wyoming). These individuals faced harassment ranging from threats to defamation, affecting their personal and professional lives.
Small Business Owners:
Businesses like Countryside BBQ and Paparoni’s Grill in South Carolina were not spared, as Noshirvan’s campaigns mobilized his followers to inundate them with negative reviews and harassment, damaging their livelihoods.
Noshirvan’s actions represent a dangerous abuse of digital platforms, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and systemic safeguards to protect individuals from such targeted harassment.
Press Freedom Battle: The Subpoena
Luthmann filed a motion in the Middle District of Florida related to the subpoena issued by Noshirvan. The document subpoena demanded extensive records, including communications and published materials related to ongoing litigation in Florida federal court. This motion is a procedural motion asking the Court to extend the 25-page requirement so Luthmann can submit more extensive documentation of Noshirvan and his lawyer, Nick Chiapetta’s bad faith and misconduct in turning a federal courtroom from a hallowed place of justice into a playground free-for-all.
Luthmann intends to seek to quash the subpoena and ask the Court for sanctions and injunctive relief to prevent future abuses. He criticized the physical service of the subpoena, which occurred in a federal courtroom immediately after a hearing presided over by Magistrate Judge Kyle Dudek ended. He called the incident “anathema to ordered justice,” accusing Chiapetta of malicious and sanctionable ethical breaches by “those weaponizing the courts for harassment.”
“Attorney Nick Chiapetta’s conduct in orchestrating this subpoena represents a calculated attempt to suppress investigative journalism,” Luthmann’s papers said. “This is not just about one journalist; it’s a fight to safeguard the First Amendment and prevent chilling effects on a free press.”
The subpoena also required compliance at a location more than 100 miles from Luthmann’s residence in Naples, which violated Rule 45(c)(1)(A) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
“This subpoena is not only facially invalid but also a clear abuse of the legal process,” Luthmann argued in his motion.
He pointed to Rule 26(b)(1) and asserted that the motion was frivolous because the requested documents are either publicly available or privileged under journalistic protections.
“[Chiapetta’s] subpoena seeks to target a journalist, violating the Qualified Journalist’s Privilege and constitutional protections. Not only should the Court look askance at the filing, but sanctions should be issued given the totality of the circumstances and Danesh Noshirvan’s history of harassment, with his uncharged crimes against U.S. Supreme Court justices as Exhibit A,” Luthmann said.
A Retaliatory Police “Harassment” Complaint?
Within hours of Luthmann’s filing, Pennsylvania State Trooper Harsomchuck contacted him regarding a “harassment” complaint filed by Noshirvan. According to a recorded phone conversation, Noshirvan called the local authorities and accused Luthmann of sending “threatening messages.”
“He’s trying to weaponize law enforcement to stifle my First Amendment rights,” Luthmann told Pennsylvania Trooper Harsomchuck. “This is a coordinated effort to intimidate a journalist exposing the truth.”
Luthmann vehemently denied the allegations, explaining that his communications with Noshirvan were strictly responsive to the subpoena and related legal filings. He unloaded on Trooper Harsomchuck about Noshirvan and his bad deeds:
“Danesh Noshirvan injects himself into situations to intimidate, extort, and harass. He is a dangerous individual under multiple investigations,” Luthmann told the Trooper.
He continued that Danesh and his lawyer, Chiapetta, knowingly subpoenaed a journalist, violating shield laws and legal precedent, directly attacking the First Amendment.
“This subpoena is illegal and meant to suppress me as a journalist exposing Danesh’s actions. So was his police complaint. It’s pure harassment, and Danesh knows it,” Luthmann said.
Trooper Harsomchuck said Noshirvan felt “threatened” by Luthmann’s email communications.
However, a review of Danesh’s communications with Luthmann makes this claim unbelievable, particularly after he threatened Luthmann’s mother.
On Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 at 7:45 AM, Danesh <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello!
…I reported you to the justice department and FBI for sharing images online that you believed to be child porn. I currently have an onlyfans account that you’re not aware you can’t research for shit and because I have every right to be on the platform. Joey’s account was removed because he shared revenge porn at Jennifer’s direction (great friends you have). Since you and your co conspirators are constantly unaware of the law, it is illegal to share sexual images and present it as child porn, even if it’s not. I have screenshots of you sharing sexual images and you claiming that you just shared child porn. There goes your entire life. You know how pedos are treated in prison, right? You deserve it, bud.
You’re putting every effort into intimating me, but you can let your boss Ralph know it’s not going to work. Threatening me, being hostile with me, harassing me, will never get me to stop and only hurt you guys in court. You’re only helping my case as I’m suing for this exact behavior. Besides, I heard you cried in court when you were served so I’m not worried about you lol
One note: no amount of threats, harassment, or you throwing yourself on the sword for no reason will get me to stop seeking justice for my kids. All your efforts are simply reported to the FBI and courts. It’s interesting that your co conspirators have no faith in their own case and have to hire you to try to scare me off hahahaha
Go tell your mom to heat you up a hot pocket and buy you a big box of tissues, because you will be held accountable along with your friends, numbnuts.
Moving forward, do not ever contact me ever again. Do not contact me with your alias either. Please only contact me through my lawyer. Any further communication will be considered harassment.
Danesh
Luthmann responded:
On Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 7:59 AM Richard Luthmann <[email protected]> wrote:
With all due respect, F— You, Danesh. I’ll contact you whenever I feel like it until a Court of law tells me not to.
You opened the door by serving me with a subpoena.
I want an interview. A Mike Wallace-style interview. And I’ll wait for it in Mansfield if needed.
Know any good delis? Do you even eat pork?
Regards,
Richard Luthmann
Writer, Journalist, and Commentator
Danesh could not help but to retort:
On Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 at 8:30 AM Danesh <[email protected]> wrote:
Yes, I eat pork, but fyi your mom doesn’t like that nickname anymore lmaoooo
🚫 blocked! Bye creep!
The juvenile exchange did not move Trooper Harsomchuck. She did not want to hear about federal law violations, the courts’ jurisdiction, or the back and forth. She warned Luthmann not to contact Noshirvan anymore or face harassment charges in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
“I have never set foot in Pennsylvania. I am a Florida resident and a journalist targeted because of my reporting,” Luthmann said. “Danesh’s actions are catching up with him. This is a last-ditch effort by someone desperate to escape the consequences of their own misconduct.”
The Trooper reiterated that Luthmann was not to contact Noshirvan under pain of arrest.
Luthmann responded, “If Tioga County District Attorney Sandra Olson brought charges against an out-of-state journalist simply for asking questions after being subpoenaed by Danesh Noshirvan in his own state, it would make national news.”
Luthmann is right. Prosecuting a journalist for doing their job would expose a glaring abuse of power and spark outrage across the country, as it directly challenges the First Amendment and press freedom.
Press Freedom Battle: The Next Steps
The court has not ruled on Luthmann’s motion to quash the subpoena or request a protective order. Meanwhile, Luthmann is “preparing for Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025, when Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.”
The subpoena’s compliance date coincides with the inauguration, prompting Luthmann to request an alternative date if his motion to quash is denied.
“This fight isn’t just about me—it’s about preserving the integrity of the press and holding bad actors accountable,” Luthmann said.
The journalist says he will not back down and won’t be intimidated of “canceled.”
“I’m not worried about the likes of Danesh Noshirvan, Nick Chiapetta, James McGibney, and their entire Bullyville.com Cancel Culture Mob,” Luthmann said. “I’ve fought the biggest bully in human history, the weaponized U.S. Department of Justice, Brooklyn style. I’m still standing.”
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