By Michael Phillips | WIBayNews
Wisconsin has officially enacted Bradyn’s Law, a bipartisan criminal-justice reform aimed at combating one of the fastest-growing threats to children today: online sexual extortion, or “sextortion.” The new law—2025 Wisconsin Act 48—was signed by Governor Tony Evers on December 8 in Weston alongside the family of 15-year-old Bradyn Bohn, who died by suicide earlier this year after falling victim to an online predator pretending to be another teenager.
But behind the emotional ceremony lies something deeper: a crisis that Wisconsin families, schools, and law enforcement are only beginning to confront. And for many center-right Wisconsinites watching crime trends and youth mental-health struggles, Bradyn’s Law is an overdue attempt to restore accountability, strengthen deterrence, and put parents—not tech companies—in the driver’s seat of child safety.
A Strong Bill—Driven by Devastating Loss
Bradyn’s Law makes sextortion a standalone felony, with stiff penalties that escalate when offenders target minors, when adults prey on children more than four years younger, or when the extortion leads to self-harm or suicide. In the most severe cases, prosecutors may pursue felony murder charges carrying sentences of up to 60 years.
Its passage was driven by Bradyn’s parents, Brittney and Luke Bird, whose advocacy brought lawmakers of both parties together. Republicans—led by Reps. JooDee Winter, Brent Jacobson, and Pat Snyder—introduced the measure, which passed unanimously through both chambers.
Assemblyman Brent Jacobson summed up the bipartisan urgency:
“This bill sends a message: stay out of Wisconsin. If you target our kids, you will be held accountable—no matter where you live.”
For a state increasingly frustrated by the cycle of juvenile crime, online exploitation, and social-media-driven harm, the message resonates.
The Reality Few Want to Admit: Sextortion Is an International Criminal Enterprise
One of the most overlooked aspects of these cases is that many sextortion operations aren’t local—and they’re not being run by impulsive teens with a smartphone. Increasingly, they originate from organized criminal networks overseas, including well-known operations based in West Africa that target American boys through social media.
Federal agents have traced thousands of sextortion cases to groups operating out of Nigeria and the Ivory Coast—some linked to gangs such as “764,” which has already been implicated in similar cases in South Carolina and the Midwest. These are not one-off incidents or isolated predators. They are sophisticated, profit-driven organizations exploiting U.S. children because:
- American teens (especially boys) are highly active online
- Shame often prevents boys from reporting
- Tech platforms fail to verify identities or enforce safety standards
- Law enforcement often has limited reach across borders
Wisconsin cannot solve the extradition and jurisdictional issues alone—but with Bradyn’s Law, it can send a clear message that prosecutors have the tools to pursue the worst offenders when they’re caught.
Why Boys Are Being Targeted—and Why They Don’t Ask for Help
Parents often assume girls are at greatest risk of online exploitation. The data tells another story.
According to the FBI, the majority of sextortion suicide cases involve male minors. Predators intentionally target boys because:
- Boys are less likely to report embarrassment-based crimes
- They can be pressured quickly with threats to reveal images
- Social stigma makes them fear punishment from parents
- Parents often assume their sons are safe online because they “don’t share intimate content”
This cultural blind spot is costing lives.
Assemblyman Pat Snyder has been one of the most outspoken voices on this issue:
“Sextortion crimes, often targeting underage boys, have been on the rise nationwide… We must respond.”
Wisconsin’s ICAC Task Force saw cyber tips surge from 176 in 2023 to 237 in 2024, and over 400 in 2025. Experts believe the real number of victims is significantly higher.
The Secondary Scam Nobody Warns Parents About
Another underreported problem: once a teen becomes a victim, they’re often revictimized by “reputation management” scammers. These groups monitor extortion activity and then offer desperate families “removal services” for hundreds or thousands of dollars—services that almost never work.
Bradyn himself paid $300 under pressure. The threats continued.
Wisconsin parents need to know:
No legitimate firm can guarantee image removal once content is in the hands of criminals.
Prevention—not reactive payouts—is the only effective defense.
A Step Forward, But Prevention Still Lags Behind
Bradyn’s Law strengthens penalties and expands victim compensation to cover suicide and attempted suicide linked to sextortion. These are meaningful reforms.
But Wisconsin still lacks:
- Mandatory digital-safety curriculum in public schools
- Statewide parental-control tools backed by tech accountability
- A uniform reporting requirement for schools when students are targeted
- Funding for long-term mental-health follow-up for teen victims
Republicans, who traditionally prioritize parental empowerment and tech accountability, are well positioned to push for these next steps—especially as Meta and other platforms continue resisting reforms that would reduce teen vulnerability.
Where Center-Right Voters Stand
Most Wisconsin conservatives will see Bradyn’s Law as an example of smart, targeted criminal-justice policy that doesn’t expand bureaucracy but does:
✔ Strengthen penalties
✔ Support victims and families
✔ Empower parents
✔ Hold predatory criminals accountable
✔ Reinforce community responsibility and family values
It also avoids the pitfalls of “soft-on-crime” approaches or sweeping federal interventions. This is Wisconsin solving a Wisconsin problem.
But the law cannot substitute for engaged parenting and community vigilance.
The Path Forward: What Wisconsin Families Can Do Right Now
Talk early. Talk often.
Children as young as 11 are being targeted.
Review your child’s apps.
Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Telegram, and gaming platforms are all common sextortion points.
Set clear reporting rules.
Boys need to know they will not be punished for being victimized.
Use state reporting channels:
Speak Up, Speak Out Wisconsin
📞 1-800-MY-SUSO-1
📱 Text SUSO to 738477
🌐 speakup.widoj.gov
For mental-health emergencies:
📞 988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Bradyn’s Law Honors a Child—and Challenges Wisconsin to Stay Vigilant
The law will save lives. But as Bradyn’s parents emphasize, legislation alone cannot keep predators out of children’s inboxes. Only a combination of accountability, education, parental involvement, and community awareness can turn the tide.
For Wisconsin’s families, this must be a moment of action—not just reflection.
Wisconsin Bay News 
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