Stop Sextortion Act

This bill would establish new federal criminal offenses for threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. It proposes criminal penalties for these threats, as well as for attempts or conspiracies to commit such acts. Additionally, the legislation would increase maximum prison terms for existing child sexual exploitation offenses when they involve the use of such materials to extort or distress a victim.

This bill affects individuals who engage in the practice of sextortion, specifically those who threaten to distribute child sexual abuse material to intimidate, coerce, or extort others. It also impacts minors who are victims of sexual exploitation and those whose visual depictions are used to cause substantial emotional distress. Additionally, the legislation applies to defendants facing criminal penalties for the attempt, conspiracy, or commission of these new federal offenses.

• Criminalization of sextortion threats. The bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material or visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. These penalties apply when the threat is made with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress.
• Penalties for attempt and conspiracy. The legislation extends criminal penalties to individuals who attempt or conspire to commit the offense of threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material for the purpose of extortion or intimidation.
• Increased penalties for related child exploitation offenses. The bill increases the maximum prison terms for various existing child sexual exploitation offenses if they involve the use of child pornography to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress.

The bill increases maximum prison terms for various existing federal offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children when those crimes are committed with the intent to intimidate, coerce, or extort a victim. It also expands federal criminal law by establishing new offenses specifically targeting the threat to distribute child sexual abuse material, a practice known as sextortion.

The bill aims to combat 'sextortion' by establishing federal criminal offenses for threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. It also seeks to increase criminal penalties for existing sexual exploitation offenses when they involve such coercive tactics.