Innocent Man Jailed for 18 Months After Skyrim-Inspired Username Mix-Up Leads to Wrongful Conviction

A Canadian gamer has been fully acquitted after spending 18 months in prison due to a mistaken identity caused by a Skyrim-inspired username. The case, which has drawn widespread attention, highlights how a minor error in a legal subpoena can have devastating real-world consequences.

According to Ars Technica, authorities investigating an online child exploitation case mistakenly requested account information for the wrong Kik username. That typo ultimately led investigators to an innocent man instead of the actual suspect.

Username Error Led Investigators to the Wrong Person

The man, identified as Brandon Klayme, used the Kik username “fus__ro_dah,” a reference to the famous Dragon Shout from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. However, when Wisconsin investigators requested account information from Kik, they reportedly omitted one of the underscores and sought records for “fus_ro_dah” instead.

Because of that discrepancy, Kik allegedly provided Klayme’s account details rather than those of the real suspect.

Authorities arrested Klayme, seized his electronic devices, and charged him with multiple offenses, including sending explicit material to a minor, child luring, and possession of child abuse material. Despite forensic examinations reportedly finding no illegal material on his devices and no evidence linking him to conversations with the victim, he was convicted and imprisoned.

According to Ars Technica, neither investigators, prosecutors, nor the defense recognized that the username listed in the subpoena did not match the account allegedly used by the perpetrator.

Promotional artwork for The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim, whose iconic Dragon Shout inspired the username involved in the wrongful conviction case. (Image via Bethesda Game Studios).

Klayme consistently maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, trial, and imprisonment. While preparing an appeal after his release, the incorrect username used in the subpoena was finally discovered.

Once prosecutors reviewed the records, they confirmed that law enforcement had obtained information for the wrong account. The conviction was subsequently overturned, and Klayme was acquitted of all charges.

Ars Technica reports that the actual individual under investigation is believed to reside in California, not Canada.

The case has raised renewed concerns about digital evidence handling, identity verification, and the importance of carefully validating online account information before pursuing criminal charges. Legal experts note that even seemingly insignificant differences—such as an extra underscore in a username—can completely change the identity of an online account.

Although the case has no connection to Bethesda or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim itself, the Dragon Shout-inspired username became the unexpected centerpiece of one of the most striking wrongful conviction cases linked to online identity errors in recent years.