Bradley M. Cox, Sextortion, Indiana 2021

Related Federal Cases

Hubert Young, Sextortion and Child Pornography Production, NJ 2024 · Washington
Kasey Ludberg, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Indiana 2023 · Illinois
Anthony Michael Bentley, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Indiana 2024 · Oregon
Ryan Steele, Attempted Child Trafficking, Indiana 2023 · Texas
Hubert Young, Child Porn ‘Sextortion’, New Jersey 2024 · Texas

Table of Contents

Kokomo Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sextortion Scheme

FORT WAYNE, Indiana – Bradley M. Cox, 30, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced to 420 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his role in a sextortion scheme that targeted multiple victims.

According to evidence presented at trial, Cox obtained nude photographs of a woman while pretending to be a modeling recruiter. He then used a social media account in the woman’s name to communicate with a Rochester, Indiana, man, eventually threatening to release the nude pictures of the man unless he gave Cox the login to his social media account.

Cox was able to gain access to the Rochester man’s account and found thousands of nude pictures of women and girls. He then hacked into another social media account, this time belonging to a high school boy. Cox sent multiple females the nude pictures of themselves he had found and threatened to publicize their nude photos online unless they sent more sexually explicit pictures and videos.

When victims refused Cox’s demands, he posted their nude pictures to a pornographic website. Cox also demanded sexually explicit pictures and videos from a pregnant 15-year-old girl, bragging to others online that he had her “on the payroll.”

Cox was charged with extortion, production and attempted production of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. He was convicted on all counts of a six-count Superseding Indictment in December 2020.

“Mr. Cox thought he could hide behind the anonymity of the internet to terrorize his young victims, causing them untold mental anguish, but this sentence is a clear message that those who engage in sextortion will be held accountable for their heinous actions,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, the Rochester, Indiana Police Department, and the Peru Indiana Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley J. Miller Lowery and Sarah E. Nokes.

Cox was ordered to pay restitution to one of his victims in the total amount of $3,000.00.

The sentencing was held on April 21, 2021.

Bradley M. Cox, sex extortion, production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, extortion, Indiana, April 21, 2021, 420 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release, $3,000.00 in restitution.