'Sextortion' bills named after UP teen victim

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Three Michigan state representatives have introduced a package of bills aimed at combating the growing threat of online “sextortion” of minors and other vulnerable people.

They called the project “Jordan D's Law” in memory of an Upper Peninsula teenager.

Jordan DeMay was 17 in 2022 when an online discussion took a nasty turn: the person or people chatting with him began demanding that he pay money to keep the intimate photos he had shared in confidence from being published.

The online requests were disturbing enough that Marquette teen commits suicide in 2022 – and the discovery followed that DeMay had not been talking to the person he had assumed he had.

In a historic move, federal officials extradited two Nigerian brothers in the United States to answer charges of online “sextortion” against DeMay and dozens of others.

“You're talking about a crime that doesn't respect borders,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“Sextortion” is exactly what its name implies: the practice of extorting money or sexual favors from a person by threatening to reveal or publish (usually online) explicit images or other evidence of a sexual nature.

Federal officials have cited “an alarming increase” in cases of sextortion of minors.

In January 2023, a 21-year-old Florida man appeared in federal court on charges of exploitation of a minor and receipt of child pornography in a case involving a 13-year-old Clinton County girl he allegedly contacted via Snapchat.

“The person may claim to already have a revealing photo or video of a child that will be shared if the victim does not send more photos,” FBI officials said“Most often, however, this type of crime begins when young people think they are communicating with someone their own age who is interested in a relationship, or with someone who is offering them something of value.”

Here in Michigan, lawmakers say they want to help prevent more people like DeMay from falling victim to such sextortion crimes. John Fitzgerald (Democrat of Wyoming), Kara Hope (D-Holt) and Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) introduced the three proposed bills this week:

HB 5887 establishes penalties for individuals who intentionally threaten to disclose sexually explicit material to coerce victims against their will.

HB 5888 presents sentencing guidelines for sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion.

HB 5889 requires collaboration between local school districts, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan State Police and the Attorney General's Office to implement educational policies regarding the proposed new law.

“The alarming rise in sextortion cases demands immediate action,” said Rep. Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming). “With the FBI reporting a tenfold increase in cases since 2021, affecting thousands of young people, we must act now to protect our children and hold predators accountable to prevent further tragedies.”

Jordan DeMay's family also welcomed the legislation.

“Jordan D’s Law is the cornerstone of what will be a robust bill to impose criminal penalties, education campaigns and accountability for tech companies linked to online crimes against youth,” said DeMay’s father, John DeMay.

“The time has come!” DeMay said.