Ramsey Khalid Ismael, known online as Johnny Somali, is now guaranteed prison time in South Korea after prosecutors added a serious new charge to his growing list of legal troubles.
The controversial American streamer, notorious for his disruptive public behaviour, faces a mandatory sentence under South Korea’s strict laws regarding AI-generated explicit content.
Somali’s legal problems began with multiple charges,s including Obstruction of Business and violations of the Minor Crimes Act. His documented offences include causing disturbances in public spaces, harassing subway passengers with a dead fish, and inappropriate behaviour on public transportation. However, the recent addition of a fifth charge – violating South Korea’s Special Act on Sexual Violence Crimes – has significantly escalated the case’s severity.
Johnny Somali is facing “mandatory prison time” after being hit with a new charge for allegedly creating AI deep-fakes of a Korean streamer pic.twitter.com/jtScdmfCLt
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 27, 2025The new charge stems from an AI-generated deepfake video that allegedly depicted popular Korean streamer BongBong in fabricated intimate scenes with Somali. Under South Korean law, creating or distributing such non-consensual AI content qualifies as a sexual crime. Legal expert Legal Mindset explained on March 27 that this charge carries a prison sentence of up to seven years and removes the possibility of paying a fine instead.
South Korea has implemented some of the world’s strictest laws regarding digital sex crimes, particularly after several high-profile cases involving manipulated media. “The law clearly states that distributing AI-generated intimate content without consent is illegal,” the legal analyst noted. “When done for profit or public distribution, it becomes a serious sexual offence.”
Read: Johnny Somali Faces New Legal Trouble in South Korea
Somali’s courtroom appearances have drawn additional criticism. During his March 7 hearing, he arrived intoxicated while wearing a MAGA hat, behaviour that many interpreted as disrespectful to the judicial process. The case has sparked widespread outrage among South Korean netizens and content creators, with many calling for stronger penalties against online harassment and AI abuse.
