Sextortion trend is 'major crisis' targeting boys in Indiana
Sextortion has been an issue for more than a decade, but 13 Investigates learned the crime is evolving.
A photo album of memories sits between Jennifer Buta and John DeMay as they remember their oldest child – Jordan.
“We definitely took him on adventures,” John said.
They watched as Jordan grew into a happy, attractive high school athlete with plans to attend college close to home. On March 24, 2022, his parents say he was preparing to go on a spring break trip with his dad’s family.
They went to bed thinking everything was OK. The next morning, Jordan was gone. The 17-year-old died by suicide. His dad found him.
“When I walked into that bedroom door and saw that. It was complete shock and I think I even said, 'Why Jordan?,’ you know, and I just turned around and walked out of there slowly. And it just feels like a dream, a nightmare and it’s something I will never get out of my mind,” DeMay said.
The next day, Jordan’s parents learned he was the victim of financial sextortion.
Jordan is one of thousands of young victims. After a surge of cases in 2022, the FBI issued a warning about an “explosion” of cases. The federal agency reports boys and young men made up most of the 3,000 child sextortion victims that year.
More than a dozen young people died by suicide, according to the FBI and Department of Justice. 13 Investigates learned of deaths in Michigan, Mississippi, California and Ohio.
James Woods was also 17.
“They sent him over 200 hundred messages,” his mom Tamia Woods said about the suspects on the other end of the message thread. “Antagonizing him, tormenting him, telling him that they would ruin his life. Sending explicit pictures to his friends."
Sextortion vs. financial sextortion
Sextortion has been an issue for more than a decade, but 13 Investigates learned the crime is changing. The victims targeted, the primary motive for the crime, and the tactics criminals use have evolved.
In years past, predators mostly targeted girls and young women in hopes of obtaining nude and sexually explicit images and videos. Criminals threatened to share the images with family and friends or post online if the victims, and sometimes their family members, did not provide more explicit images.
Now the motive for the crime is mostly financial.
Indiana’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force reports it receives about 43 sextortion-related tips every month. The multi-agency task force reports the trend of more male victims started in the summer of 2022 and reports keep coming in.
“It's a major issue,” said 1st Sgt. Christopher Cecil, Indiana’s ICAC commander. “Since July of this year, we've seen a large increase … of cyber tips that come from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concerning sextortion. Specifically involving kids here in Indiana and involving suspects here in Indiana who are preying on children in this state and outside the state of Indiana."
ICAC reports most of the boys targeted are between 14 and 17 years old and the suspects are primarily from the Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
The total number of victims nationwide and in Indiana is hard to know for sure. Each tip could involve one or multiple victims. In many cases, a cybercriminal can target dozens, if not hundreds, of victims.
Law enforcement tell 13 Investigates boys and young men often only share one nude photo and then almost immediately they are blackmailed into sending money or gift cards.
“It's at most a few hundred dollars,” said FBI Special Agent Andrew Willmann. “At absolute most. Usually it's a $25 here, $25 there, but it's just emotionally devastating for the child.”
Jordan's story
Jordan lived in Marquette, Michigan. His attackers demanded $1,000.
Court documents show the exchange the 17-year-old had on Instagram with an account using the name "dani.robertts." These messages appeared on Jordan’s phone at 1:23 a.m.:
a. dani.robertts: "I have screenshot all ur followers and tags can send this nudes to everyone and also send your nudes to your Family and friends Until it goes viral…All you've to do is to cooperate with me and I won't expose you"
b. dani.robertts: "Are you gonna cooperate with me"
c. dani.robertts: "Just pay me rn" d. dani.robertts: "And I won't expose you"
e. Victim 1: "How much"
f. dani.robertts: "$1000"
The messages kept coming. Jordan’s family was fast asleep. The teen was able to send $300. At 3:43 a.m., court documents show the following message exchange:
a. dani.robertts: "Goodbye"
b. dani.robertts: "Enjoy your miserable life"
c. Victim 1: "I'm kms rn" [Notes:"I'm kill myself right now"]
d. Victim 1: "Bc of you" [Notes:"Because of you"]
e. dani.robertts: "Good"
f. dani.robertts: "Do that fast"
g. dani.robertts: "Or I'll make you do it"
h. dani.robertts: "I swear to God"
Jordan took his own life. He was short $700 of the $1,000 demanded.
Marquette County (Mich.) Sheriff Greg Zybert said even if Jordan had the full amount, the harassment would not stop.
“It just keeps going and going,” he said. “There is no limit. And they’ll soak you. And more often than not probably send the pictures anyways.”
The initial call from Jordan’s house to the sheriff’s office was for a suicide. At first, there was no sign of foul play. Jordan’s social media looked clear.
However, the day after his death, his parents say his then-girlfriend reported someone sent her a nude image of Jordan.
“That changed everything,” John said.
The girlfriend blocked the sender but kept the messages and the image. Those two decisions were critical in providing information to detectives. They were able to use that evidence to start investigating.
"We were able to get the IP address, and basically follow the crumbs,” Zyburt said. “Once it got out of state and then out of the country, of course, you get the federal government involved.”
Zyburt said the trail led to Nigeria. Investigators say a global sextortion ring targeted Jordan as well as more than 100 other young men and boys.
In an unusual move, three men now face charges in the United States. Zyburt said it’s the first time someone has been extradited for financial sextortion. In August, the Department of Justice reported Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, two brothers, were extradited. Nineteen-year-old Ezkiel Ejehem Robert is awaiting extradition. The three face four federal charges, including exploitation of a minor resulting in death, which comes with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Jordan’s parents say three more people are facing charges in Nigeria. A spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Michigan told 13 Investigates it could confirm the additional prosecutions “per Nigerian news reports only.”
“These individuals being held accountable for what they did - that's justice for Jordan,” Jennifer said. “But at the end of the day, whatever happens in that courtroom will never bring our son back. It does not change the loss that we feel, and we have to remember that there is another parent, parents in Nigeria, that their children are here. They're missing their children. So, it's just a really awful tragedy that has affected so many lives.”
The new targets
The FBI says this is one group involved in a “global crisis” that impacts teens in Indiana, nationwide and around the world. Federal prosecutors accuse the group that targeted Jordan of blackmailing more than 100 boys and young men.
"In our case, they tried to kill Jordan,” John said.
The conversation between Jordan and the Instagram account lasted about 3 1/2 hours, according to the sheriff.
Court documents show the day after Jordan died, the same account sent a 21-year-old man the following messages.
a. dani.robertts: "I will make you regret you life"
b. dani.robertts: "I will make u commit suicide"
Jordan’s dad wants these arrests to make people think twice before trying to sextort a kid for money. At the very least, he hopes these arrests will make sextortionists think twice before using those same tactics going forward.
“They're probably slowing down a little bit on that, knowing that once Americans die over this, then the weight of the U.S. government is going to come and get you,” John said. “So even if that's a little win, if it's just a money extortion, and we move on from there, that's a little win. And I hope that’s the case."
13 Investigates asked multiple members of law enforcement why boys and young men are now the overwhelming target of financial sextortion. No one could say for sure, but there are some theories.
“We as a society stereotype that girls are the victims, but boys are increasingly becoming victims,” said Cecil. “And I think boys are more apt to share nude depictions of themselves as opposed to what girls are.”
Investigators say predators often pose as a girl or young woman by creating or buying hacked accounts.
“They're very selective,” Zyburt said. “They want someone who has something to lose. And so, they're looking for the brightest and the best. And of course, Jordan filled that picture. He was Mr. Basketball, Mr. Football, honor student, just a great kid."
In some cases, law enforcement says the sextortionist is just one person. In other cases, there’s a team of people working together. In Jordan’s case, investigators believe while one person was messaging Jordan another was collecting more information about his life. Learning where he lived, went to school, who his parents were as well as collecting the names of friends and followers.
"They put a collage together of everything that he had to accomplished,” Sheriff Zyburt said. “And then they got all his social media contacts from Twitter, from Facebook."
Talk about it
Jordan’s case is a blueprint for what can happen, but it is unusual for an arrest to be made. More and more cases are like James’ - his parents are in Ohio still waiting for someone to be arrested and held accountable.
The Woods started the Do It For James Foundation to help educate parents and kids about what they call an “invisible evil.” They attend speaking arrangements and provide links to resources for families.
It is part of a growing push for more conversations about sextortion with all children and young people.
13 Investigates learned some of those conversations are already taking place in area schools. In Mooresville, the sextortion conversation starts in the sixth grade.
"You know, as a parent and as an administrator, I really feel it's important for them to know this information," Paul Hadley Middle School Principal Micah Elliot said.
State law already requires schools to teach kids about physical and sexual abuse and what to spot and how to report it. In Mooresville, Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Centers puts on presentations to talk about multiple topics and added sextortion to the conversation last year.
The kids file onto the gym bleachers to hear about local cases and participate in an exercise discussing what they should do in that situation. At one point, the children gasp when they’re told sexting could lead to them being sextorted or financially sextorted.
This summer, the school even held a parent university for incoming seventh graders. Susie’s Place presented the issue to parents without their children in the room.
“We had a lot of positive reactions,” Hadley said. “You know there were a few parents who wished their children were with them while they saw the presentation, so that’s something we’ll keep an open mind to next year to invite parents and students.”
The Department of Homeland Security, NCMEC and Thorn have resources to help educate parents and help them discuss sextortion with their kids. They suggest families start the conversation early and let children know they are supported even if they fall into a sextortion trap.
Another suggestion - review your child’s social media settings. Making a profile private can limit what predators can find out with a basic search. Parents should also review their child’s online friends, followers and, in some cases, conversations.
You may want to remind your kids not to accept friend requests from people they do not know in real life and not to share any personal contact information, like an email, with a stranger. Also, remind kids never to share their password with anyone and to report threats.
Some families choose to eliminate or limit online access depending on the child’s age. You may even want to consider a rule banning phones and other devices in bedrooms overnight or turning off the Wi-Fi at a certain time of day.
Everyone 13 Investigates consulted said this should be an ongoing conversation.
Jordan’s mom said even after Jordan died, some of his friends fell into a sextortion trap.
“I think it happens so quickly that they don't even see it coming," she said.
Which is why it’s important for kids to know they can turn to their parents or a trusted adult to report if they are targeted.
NCMEC has several tips for kids that end up experiencing sextortion. The group says to remember you’re not to blame. Get help before sending money or following the blackmailer’s instructions, on its website, NCMEC states, “cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail.”
Experts in this kind of crime suggest reporting the sender to the platform being used to send the messages.
BLOCK, BLOCK, BLOCK
Law enforcement and child advocacy groups say this step is especially important, block the sender and do not delete anything.
Blocking does a few things. If you block first, the sextortionist can’t go back and delete the messages and images. It allows you to preserve key evidence so law enforcement can try and track down the criminal by obtaining a warrant.
“Well, the main thing is for anyone that gets sextorted is block them, block them,” Zyburt said. “That's the first thing you do, but save the conversation, save everything that you have. Don't erase that, because that's what helps us follow the breadcrumbs.”
Of course, kids should turn to a parent or trusted adult to discuss what happened. You can report the sextortion local law enforcement as well as send a tip to the FBI or NCMEC - both have websites specifically to aggregate tips.
Child advocacy groups like Susie’s Place and NCMEC provide support for kids and families who have dealt with sextortion. NCMEC created the Take it Down service to help remove “online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos” of kids younger than 18. The service works with online platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and OnlyFans to scan for images and videos on both their public and unencrypted platforms.
Survivors first answer some questions, then select the concerning image or video on the phone so Take It Down can assign a digital fingerprint known as a hash value to the content. Online, the group says, “This all happens without the image or video ever leaving your device or anyone viewing it, and you don’t have to share any personal information.” The service then shares the digital footprint with online platforms so they can detect copies of the images and videos to limit the spread.
Jordan and James' parents hope their story can educate families and help kids realize they have options. So even if they’re targeted and make a mistake, kids know there’s still someone out there willing to help.