SACRAMENTO, CA – Jayson Fernandez Butay, 30, of Sacramento, will spend the next 25 years behind bars after being sentenced today for a sickening campaign of sexual exploitation targeting children. U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb handed down the sentence, along with an order for Butay to pay $118,278 in restitution to his victims, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
The case, laid bare in court documents, reveals a calculated predator. In April 2019, Butay initiated contact with a 15-year-old girl in Finland via Snapchat. Posing as someone else, he manipulated the girl into sending him nude images. Butay didn’t stop there. He then escalated to outright threats, blackmailing the victim with the promise of sharing the images with her family and friends unless she complied with his demands for sexually explicit videos. He successfully obtained at least one such video before law enforcement intervened.
Butay’s depravity extended beyond this single victim. Investigators uncovered evidence that he produced child sexual abuse material featuring other minors, including at least one 9-year-old girl whose identity remains unknown. He utilized common internet applications to create and distribute this horrific content, preying on vulnerable children online. The scale of the abuse was laid bare when federal agents executed search warrants at Butay’s Sacramento residence.
“Agents seized hundreds of images and videos from Butay’s digital devices, all depicting the sexual exploitation of children – some of them infants,” a source within the investigation confirmed. The sheer volume of material underscores the systematic nature of Butay’s crimes and the lasting trauma inflicted upon his victims. This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment; it was a sustained and deliberate effort to harm children.
“This investigation highlights the serious threat sextortionists pose to children who use popular messaging and social media apps,” stated FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Online anonymity combined with the natural inexperience of youth creates a dangerous environment that parents must better understand and monitor. The FBI works closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring these predators to justice. We urge anyone who has been targeted or victimized to come forward. You are not alone — we will help you.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood can visit Justice.gov/PSC. This sentencing serves as a stark warning: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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