Michigan lawmakers push for ‘Jordan D’s Law’ to combat online sextortion

LANSING, Michigan. – Lawmakers have introduced new legislation to protect children from sexual exploitation online.

—> FBI warns of rising threat of sextortion: What parents need to know

The bill, Jordan DeMay’s Law, is named after a 17-year-old Marquette boy who committed suicide after becoming the victim of an online extortion operation.

Sextortion details

DeMay was a student at Marquette High School in March 2022 when Nigerian men approached him on Instagram posing as a girl.

They convinced DeMay to send nude photos of himself and then blackmailed him for money, threatening to send the photos to everyone in his life.

DeMay sent $300, but the men kept pressuring him for more. He committed suicide in his home hours later, officials said.

Two brothers were each sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for their roles.

What is included in the invoice package?

At a press conference on the bill on Wednesday, September 25, Rep. John Fitzgerald was joined by Rep. Jenn Hill, Jordan’s father John DeMay, Marquette County Sheriff Gregory S. Zyburt, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom, teachers Larissa Hunt and Parween Zaher, and Rep. Kara Hope.

You can watch the full press conference in the video player above.

“Sextortion is one of the most disgusting forms of exploitation that we see today and it really hides in the dark and preys on young people and vulnerable people,” Fitzgerald said. “Let me tell you, as a father, there is nothing that disgusts me more than this type of abuse. Nothing.”

The bill aims to educate children about sextortion and make them aware of its consequences, and also criminalize sex trafficking at the state level.

“I’m sure no parent wants their child’s name on a law, especially in this context,” Hope said. “I know I’ve heard a lot about Stranger Danger, but now the stranger is in your home, in your child’s room, and you don’t know it and you didn’t give permission.”

Fitzgerald said Jordan’s law creates a way for Michigan residents to seek help.

“It’s heartbreaking that this is not an isolated incident,” Hill said. “We need all hands on deck. We need parents, teachers, community leaders, legislators — we want to make sure his life was not in vain.”

Jordan’s bill includes HB 5887, which establishes penalties for threatening to release explicit material for coercion; HB 5888, which establishes sentencing guidelines for sexual extortion; and HB 5889, which requires cooperation between school districts, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan State Police, and the Attorney General’s Office to implement education policy.

“We are sending a message to the rest of the world. Michigan will not tolerate the exploitation of our children and we will not leave children without the support they need,” Hill said. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that Michigan leads the fight against sexual exploitation and preserves our children’s space.”

How Sextortion Happens

Sextortion begins on the internet, with the criminal using deception and manipulation to convince their victim to engage in explicit activity. It starts with a quick message, something like, “Hey, I’m into gaming too. Let’s chat.”

Trust is built and it escalates and the child is asked to send a nude photo. Then the pressure starts with texts like “Hey, I got your nudes and I’m going to ruin your life. I’m going to send it to all your followers and make it go viral. Send me $500 and I’ll delete it all.”

The children become scared and do not dare to ask for help.

According to the FBI, the suicide rate among sextortion victims is alarmingly high.

If you think you or someone you know is being sextorted, do not delete anything from your device until the police have a chance to review it. Although it may be embarrassing, tell the authorities everything about the encounters you had online.

Call the FBI’s Detroit Field Office at 313-965-2323 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. You can also file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (1-800-THE-LOST or cybertipline.org).