Jacob M. Rager, a 21-year-old resident of Columbus, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to charges of sextortion involving at least two female victims and possession of child pornography.
Court documents reveal that one victim contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center in April 2023 after discovering that nude photos of her at age 17 were being distributed. The victim had previously communicated with Rager on Instagram and sent him nude photos in February and November 2022, once for a $15 payment.
In March 2023, Rager demanded another nude photo from the victim under threat of distributing her previous images to her friends. When she did not comply, he sent the images to a high school friend of hers. In October 2023, Rager continued his threats via TikTok messages: “I have your nudes still. Reply unless you want me to expose you to everyone you know…”
The investigation uncovered a second victim whose images were also distributed by Rager. He shared a link with this victim via Instagram in October 2023 leading to a site containing folders named after girls from Ohio University, including one for this victim.
Rager created an Instagram account using the full name of the second victim followed by "destruction" and messaged her threatening exposure unless she replied: “i have your nudes still. unless you want me to show your friends, family and both your brothers i suggest you reply...”
Despite being aware of an ongoing federal investigation against him, Rager continued contacting the second victim through various social media accounts.
A search of his cell phone revealed additional child pornography involving minors aged approximately 10 to 15 years old engaged in explicit acts.
Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison under federal law, while using interstate communications for extortion carries a potential maximum sentence of two years. Sentencing will be determined based on advisory guidelines and statutory factors at a future hearing.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Cincinnati Division; and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force announced Rager's guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski represents the United States in this case.