NAPERVILLE, Ill. A Texas man was charged with allegedly exploiting a Naperville teen in an online “sextortion” case.

In February 2023, a male juvenile reported to police that he had sent explicit photos of himself online to someone claiming to be a 16-year-old female, who then threatened to release the photos unless he sent money.

In the 2023 case, Naperville detectives learned that after receiving the explicit photos from the teen, the man, later identified as Cody Ratliff, 39, of Kerrville, Texas, allegedly located the victim’s friends and family on social media and threatened to send them the photos.

The juvenile paid the suspect, who allegedly demanded further payments.

Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said the case is “sextortion.”

“This is called sextortion, and it’s a growing problem in our society that every family should be aware of,” he said. “Twenty-seven incidents of sextortion have been reported to our department in the last two years, with nearly half of the victims being juveniles. Parents, please talk to your children about their activity online and help them protect them from criminals and sexual predators who use the anonymity of the internet to prey on their victims.”

A warrant was issued for Ratliff’s arrest and he was taken into custody by Naperville police on Feb. 9.

Ratliff was charged with intimidation.