LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill package designed to bolster sextortion laws in Michigan.
Sextortion occurs when someone uses explicit images of another person as blackmail, threatening to publicize them if money is not sent.
The newly signed law — called Jordan D’s Law — allows school officials to join forces with law enforcement agencies to address crimes committed over social media. It also helps define sentencing guidelines.
The bills were drafted after 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette took his life after becoming a victim of sextortion.
FOX 17's Samantha Mesa spoke with Jordan's mother on her efforts to prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.
"It's really incredible that this got passed so quickly," says Jennifer Buta. "I'm really proud of our lawmakers and the governor for putting forth this initiative and passing this and realizing that it's such an important piece to protect not only our children but the citizens in the state of Michigan, and that they are being leaders for the rest of the country and states to follow suit."
Three Nigerian men were charged in the connection to her son's death. Two of them entered guilty pleas.
"Financial sextortion is still happening every day in the United States," says Jennifer. "I still receive phone calls and messages from parents."
Jennifer urges families to have discussions about sextortion.
"If it does happen to you, you are the victim. You have done nothing wrong. There are so many people ready and willing to help," says Jennifer. "In each milestone with what has happened with Jordan, it's been a really surreal experience, you know, straight out of the gates, from the investigation and the successful prosecution, and now here to seeing some legislative change in place. ... The whole experience has been surreal, but at the end of the day, what happened to Jordan is saving other kids' lives."
One man pleaded guilty this week to laundering money for Nigerian sextortionists.
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