Sacramento Man Sentenced to 25 years for extortion, child sexual abuse material offenses
"This investigation highlights the serious threat sextortionists pose to children who use popular messaging and social media apps."
A Sacramento man, Jayson Fernandez Butay, 30, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb issued the sentence on July 21 and also ordered Butay to pay $118,278 in restitution to his victims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced the sentencing, which stems from Butay's exploitation of multiple minors, including a 15-year-old girl in Finland and an unidentified 9-year-old girl.
Court documents demonstrated that Butay used the social media app Snapchat in April 2019 to communicate with the 15-year-old Finnish girl. He deceived her about his identity and coerced her into sending him nude images.
Once he obtained these images, Butay threatened to share them with her family and friends unless she sent him sexually explicit videos. Through this "sextortion" tactic, he acquired at least one additional sexually explicit video from the victim.
Butay also produced child sexual abuse material involving other minor victims, including the 9-year-old girl, utilizing common internet applications. Federal law enforcement agents searched Butay's Sacramento home, seizing hundreds of images and videos from his digital devices that depicted the sexual exploitation of children, including infants.
"This investigation highlights the serious threat sextortionists pose to children who use popular messaging and social media apps," FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said. "Online anonymity combined with the natural inexperience of youth creates a dangerous environment that parents must better understand and monitor."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki.
