Ajay Thakore, who operates under aliases like Ace Rogers, became a victim in Idriss Qibaa's elaborate scheme, ultimately contributing to the 28-year-old's arrest and guilty plea on charges of extortion, money laundering, stalking, and threatening communications. Qibaa's "reign of terror," which netted him an alleged $600,000 monthly from over 200 victims by hijacking social media accounts, ended after he boasted about his crimes on a January 2024 podcast, a move that drew FBI attention - partly triggered by Thakore's ordeal. Thakore recently posted on social media, explaining the situation.
"So that f*cker is going to jail for 50 years,” posted Ajay Thakore to his @acerogersceo Instagram account. “You shouldn’t have threatened a riccking. You shouldn’t have threatened my kid. And now you’re going to jail, b*tch. There’s this guy, his name is Idriss Qibaa. I don’t know what f*ckin nationality he is. He went on No Jumper and he f*ckin’ was bragging how, you know, he unbanned Instagram accounts, when in reality he was the one banning them and extorting f*ckin’ people. He said give me this much money and I’ll give you your Instagram back. He threatened f*ckin’ people. Anyway, he caught on to me and my f*ckin’ Instagram account and he started threatening me, extorting me for money, threatening my girl, threatening my daughter, saying he was gonna kill my f*ckin’ dog, that he was going to kill my dog in front of me."
According to Daily Mail, who refers to Thakore as "AT" in the article, Thakore's involvement began when he purchased the Instagram handle @ace from Qibaa for $25,000 but never gained access, sparking a harassment campaign. Court documents reveal Qibaa bombarded Thakore with threats as frequent as every other day, targeting his daughter, fiancé, dog, and business partners, demanding $100,000 after an initial $10,000 offer was rejected - far exceeding the initial deal. This escalation included menacing messages and underscored Thakore's role as a pivotal victim whose experience helped law enforcement connect the dots.
"The FBI contacted me," continued Thakore. "I’m not doing anything wrong, but I don’t really want to talk to the FBI. So I go down, finally, tell him everything I know about this f*ckin’ a$$hole. They f*ckin’ arrest him, and now he’s gonna face up to 55 years in prison. The lesson here is, don’t f*ck with a rich dog. We’ll f*ckin’ call the FBI on you and you’ll go to f*cking federal prison."
The FBI, tipped off on April 1, 2024, after Qibaa's podcast brag, investigated, leading to his July 2024 arrest. Thakore's high-profile status, amplified by his Aspen & Delilah yacht - a $4.5 million, 63-foot vessel docked in San Diego Bay with custom upgrades like Starlink and SeaBobs - likely made him a lucrative target, yet his case proved instrumental in Qibaa's downfall.
Thakore's history of legal and public entanglements adds context to his latest involvement. In 2021, he allegedly harassed La Jolla's American Pizza Manufacturing with negative reviews, branded vehicles, and a banner plane flying above the restaurant, later suing for discrimination while facing a countersuit. In 2024, he faced charges of indecent exposure after a dockside altercation with a Seaforth Boat Rental employee, and a dismissed domestic violence restraining order from a claimed longtime girlfriend further fueled his notoriety.
Thakore's history of legal and public entanglements adds context to his latest involvement. In 2021, he allegedly harassed La Jolla's American Pizza Manufacturing with negative reviews, branded vehicles, and a banner plane flying above the restaurant, later suing for discrimination while facing a countersuit. In 2024, he faced charges of indecent exposure after a dockside altercation with a Seaforth Boat Rental employee, and a dismissed domestic violence restraining order from a claimed longtime girlfriend further fueled his notoriety.
His "urgent" sale of the yacht, listed at $4,495,500, hints at financial or personal shifts, yet his role in Qibaa's case showcases a different side - unwittingly aiding justice. Qibaa, who also targeted a dentist, landlord, and influencer with threats and vandalism, faces up to 20 years for extortion when sentenced on May 22, 2025. For San Diegans, Thakore's latest chapter reinforces his complex legacy, blending scandal with unexpected impact.
Originally published on March 5, 2025.
