Michael Stern Seeks To Unmask Anonymous Online Troll

Developer Michael Stern is going to court to try to unmask an anonymous online troll.

The JDS Development Group founder filed a petition on Monday in New York State Supreme Court, seeking to uncover the identity of the operator of a website and social media accounts that he claims have waged a “coordinated and sustained anonymous smear campaign” against him and his firm.

Stern accuses an unidentified “John Doe” of publishing false and defamatory statements on a website called JDSPulse.com and affiliated accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X. Online posts label Stern a “convicted felon” and accuse him of running a business “built on deception, forged documents, and financial manipulation” — claims he calls “demonstrably and categorically false.”

Stern is asking the court for permission to subpoena Meta, X, Cloudflare, Namecheap and Google in an effort to identify the anonymous poster.

“These are not protected expressions of opinion on matters of concern,” the petition claims. “They are specific false factual assertions designed to destroy reputations and imperil business relationships.”

JDSPulse did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

The developer says the alleged smear campaign began in March 2025 with the launch of JDSPulse.com and corresponding social media accounts to allegedly target the developer’s investors, lenders and business partners. A related account on X impersonated Stern and spread the accusations by interacting with various media outlets, including The Real Deal, before being removed by the platform, according to the filing.

The anonymous operator took steps to conceal their identity, the filing claims, including registering the domain through NameCheap using an Iceland-based privacy proxy service.

Despite hiring private investigators, Stern says he has been unable to identify the person behind the posts.

Stern claims the allegations have already strained investor relationships and have been cited in separate litigation, including a dispute involving Italian entrepreneur Gianluca Vacchi.

Stern filed a defamation lawsuit last year in Florida against the operator of the website and social media accounts and served subpoenas to Google, NameCheap and an investigative firm that did a background report on Stern that was posted on JDSPulse.

Representatives for Meta, X, Cloudflare, Namecheap and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.