BONUS SERIES: Levittown Episode 5 | The Vigilantes
Summary
This episode of *Levittown* details the aftermath of Patrick Carey’s conviction for creating non-consensual deepfake images of minors, highlighting victim Kayla’s emotional journey and her powerful impact statement. The narrative shifts to the investigation of the website’s creator, Scott Trent Costa, who was identified by private investigator Will Wallace and a coalition of online vigilantes. Despite a successful campaign to take the site offline, Costa evaded authorities, and the episode concludes with a preview of the final installment focusing on other deepfake applications.
Topics discussed
Bloomberg Tech Minute: SpaceX hiring culture and equity
Chase for Business sponsorship segment
Victim reaction to learning perpetrator's identity
Impact of image manipulation on victim's identity
Courtroom encounter with the accused
New at Five: Arrest details and victim statements
Victim's experience in the holding room
Emotional impact of first court appearance
Preparing the victim impact statement
Reading the impact statement at sentencing
Confronting the perpetrator during sentencing
Victim's final words to the judge and accused
Motivation for participating in the criminal case
Levertown podcast introduction
Bloomberg Tech Minute: EV inventory and sales trends
Bloomberg Tech Minute: Hybrid and used EV demand
Comcast Business sponsorship segment
4imprint sponsorship segment
Perpetrator's statement of regret
Perpetrator's plea for no forgiveness
Prosecutors' strategy for sex offender registration
Judge's comments on the defendant's behavior
Website shutdown and investigation pivot
Investigator's fatigue and goal to shut down site
Using data breaches to trace burner emails
Linking burner email to CafePress account
Identifying Scott Trent Costa via public records
Following the money to verify identity
Tracing payment to Cloud Cyber Services LLC
Confirming Scott Costa's identity and location
Seeking allies on Reddit forums
Bloomberg Tech Minute: EV demand stabilization
Bloomberg Tech Minute: Hybrid and used EV market
Comcast Business sponsorship segment
4imprint sponsorship segment
Will Wallace's search for accountability
Connecting with Claudia on Reddit
Claudia's background in tracking offenders
Mobilizing the Reddit community for justice
Involvement of hacker Pom Pom Purin
Harassment of Scott's family by hackers
Removing ads and taking down the site
Will's reaction to the site's removal
Discussion on law enforcement and CSAM saturation
Arrest of Pom Pom Purin for CSAM possession
Scott going further underground after exposure
Scott's request not to be named in the story
New website launch and Cloudflare complaint
Taunting emails from the new site administrator
Secret Service visit to Scott's mother
Journalists' attempt to interview Scott
Investigating other deepfake apps and owners
Levertown podcast credits
Cincinnati Insurance sponsorship segment
Comcast Business sponsorship segment
Whisper Flow Notetaker sponsorship segment
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