Date: 04-27-2021

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:18-cr-00083-HAB-SLC

Judge: Holly A. Brady

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana (Allen county)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:

Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description: Fort Wayne, Indiana criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with sextortion.

Bradley M. Cox, 30, of Kokomo, Indiana, was charged with extortion, production and attempted production of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Bell.

According to evidence presented at trial, Cox obtained nude photographs of a woman while pretending to be a modeling recruiter. Cox used a social media account in the woman’s name to communicate with a Rochester, Indiana, man. Cox exchanged the photos of the woman with the Rochester man. Eventually, Cox threatened publicly to release the nude pictures of the Rochester man unless the man gave Cox the login to his social media account. Cox was given access to the Rochester man’s account. Once inside the account, Cox found thousands of nude pictures of women and girls. Cox hacked into another social media account, this time of a high school boy. Cox then sent multiple females the nude pictures of themselves he had found in the Rochester man’s social media account and threatened to publicize their nude photos online unless they sent more sexually explicit pictures and videos. At least two of these were high school girls at the time.

When victims refused Cox’s demands, Cox posted their nude pictures to a pornographic website. Using the hacked social media account, Cox demanded sexually explicit pictures and videos from a pregnant 15-year-old girl, bragging to others online that he had this girl “on the payroll,” which was a reference to her sending him pictures and videos. Cox divulged his scheme to at least one other woman whom he met online and eventually met in person. Other evidence in the case showed that Cox also attempted to recruit others, including at least one high school student, to help him with his scheme.

The FBI’s forensic analysis of Cox’s work computer, the social media accounts, and Cox’s cellular telephone identified Cox as the person using the relevant social media accounts, despite Cox’s use of sophisticated concealment efforts. Cox also admitted much of this conduct during later interviews with the FBI.

“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 FBI and our partners are dedicated to rooting out these perpetrators and ensuring they can never impose such terror on their victims and their families ever again.”

This 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.

18:875(d); INTERSTATE COMMUNICATIONS OF THREAT TO DAMAGE REPUTATION and FORFEITURE;
(1s)

18:2251(a) and (e): SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR and FORFEITURE;
(2s)

18:875(d); INTERSTATE COMMUNICATIONS OF THREAT TO DAMAGE REPUTATION and FORFEITURE;
(3s-4s)

18:2251(a) and (e): SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR and FORFEITURE;
(5s)

18:2252A(a)(2)(A) and (b)(1); RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY and FORFEITURE
(6s)

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 420 months imprisonment consisting of 60 months on Count 6s to run concurrent to all other counts; 20 years supervised to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; to pay a $5,000.00 JVTA assessment; to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000.00 pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2259; and forfeiture.

4/21/2021 286 SENTENCING for Bradley M Cox held on 4/21/2021 before Judge Holly A Brady. Govt appeared by attys Lesley Miller Lowery and Sarah Nokes. FBI Agent Jason Stewart also appeared. Dft appeared pro se and by stand-by atty David Joley. Jaime Klopfenstein appeared on behalf of US Probation/Pretrial Services. Court OVERRULES Dft's renewed objection re two level enhancement for distributing child pornography. Govt Exhibit 1 ADMITTED. Dft Exhibits A, B and C ADMITTED. Dft sentenced to 420 months imprisonment consisting of 24 months as to Count 1s to run concurrent to all other counts; 1 year supervised release to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; and forfeiture; 180 months on Count 2s to run concurrent to Counts 1s, 3s, 4s and 6s and to run consecutive to Count 5s; 20 years supervised release to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; to pay a $5,000.00 JVTA assessment; and forfeiture; 24 months on Count 3s to run concurrent to all other counts; 1 year supervised release to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; and forfeiture; 24 months on Count 4s to run concurrent to all other counts; 1 year supervised release to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; and forfeiture; 240 months as to Count 5s to run concurrent to Counts 1s, 3s, 4s and 6s and to run consecutive to Count 2s; 20 years supervised release to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; to pay a $5,000.00 JVTA assessment; and forfeiture; 60 months on Count 6s to run concurrent to all other counts; 20 years supervised to run concurrent to all other counts; to pay $100.00 special assessment; to pay a $5,000.00 JVTA assessment; to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000.00 pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2259; and forfeiture. Dft REMANDED to custody of US Marshal. (Court Reporter Tina Gallucci). (cc: Bradley M Cox). (cer) (Entered: 04/21/2021)
04/21/2021 287 JUDGMENT as to Bradley M Cox (1). Signed by Judge Holly A Brady on 4/21/21. (cer) (Entered: 04/21/2021)

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