A form of extortion in which an offender threatens to distribute a real or fabricated sexually explicit image or video of a victim unless the victim provides money, additional sexual images, or other compliance. It typically begins with an offender obtaining an intimate image, whether through a fabricated online relationship, hacking, or the victim having previously shared it consensually, and has grown substantially as a distinct reported crime category since the 2010s alongside the rise of social media and video chat platforms that make both initial image acquisition and mass, low-cost threats easier. Law enforcement agencies including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation treat it as a priority category due to its documented use against minors, in some cases contributing to victim suicides, and its status as a fast-growing form of online financial and sexual exploitation.
Facts
Classification CodeNo dedicated federal sextortion statute; prosecuted under various existing laws including extortion, bribery, sexual exploitation, child pornography and computer hacking statutes 1 Typical PenaltyUnder 18 U.S.C. 2422(b), when the victim is a minor, imprisonment of not less than 10 years or for life; lesser sextortion conduct against an adult can be charged as interstate extortion under 18 U.S.C. 875(d), up to 2 years 2 Elements of OffenseUnder 18 U.S.C. 875(d), transmitting a communication in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to extort money or a thing of value by threatening to injure the addressee's property or reputation, or to accuse them of a crime 3 Notable ExampleAnthony Stancl, Wisconsin, sentenced to 15 years in prison in February 2010 for posing as a girl on Facebook to extort nude photos and sexual acts from male classmates 1 Jurisdiction VariationSextortion is prosecuted under a patchwork of existing statutes that differs by jurisdiction rather than under one uniform offense 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
Associated With
Source Wikipedia: Cybercrime
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
Sources
1. Sextortion (Wikipedia)
Legal aspects section (classification)
Incidents of sextortion have been prosecuted under various criminal statutes, including as extortion, bribery, breach of trust, corruption, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, child pornography, and computer hacking and wiretapping.
Notable cases section
Anthony Stancl of Wisconsin, then 18, received 15 years in prison in February 2010 after he posed as a girl on Facebook to trick male high school classmates into sending him nude cell phone photos, which he then used to extort them for homosexual sex.
Legal aspects section (variation)
Incidents of sextortion have been prosecuted under various criminal statutes, including as extortion, bribery, breach of trust, corruption, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, child pornography, and computer hacking and wiretapping.
View the Source2. 18 U.S.C. 2422, Coercion and enticement (Cornell LII)
18 U.S.C. section 2422(b)Quote, 18 U.S.C. section 2422(b)
Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.
3. 18 U.S.C. 875, Interstate communications (Cornell LII)
18 U.S.C. section 875(d)Quote, 18 U.S.C. section 875(d)
Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
Wikipedia: Cybercrime
Associated With: Cybercrime, Lead and law-enforcement sectionsQuote, Associated With: Cybercrime, Lead and law-enforcement sections
Cybercrime encompasses a wide range of criminal activities that are carried out using digital devices and/or networks.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.