Glenn Daeward Boyd, a 36-year-old from Kershaw, South Carolina, was sentenced to 272 months in prison for attempted extortion and other charges. The announcement came from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Alexis Sanford. Boyd’s conviction included charges of stalking and five counts of wire fraud.
At the time of his crimes, Boyd was already serving a sentence in South Carolina for voluntary manslaughter and other offenses. Evidence presented at trial showed that Boyd used a contraband cell phone to impersonate “Jad,” an 18-year-old girl on the dating app “Plenty of Fish.” Through this guise, he communicated with an individual identified as B.G., eventually posing as Jad’s grandparents to extort money by threatening to report B.G. as a pedophile.
The situation escalated when Boyd used Facebook to further accuse B.G., who subsequently reported the extortion attempt to police before dying by suicide at age 22.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, remarked on the sentencing: “Yesterday’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the grave nature of Mr. Boyd’s predatory actions specifically, his heinous crimes of sexual exploitation and extortion that have tragically resulted in a profound loss of life.”
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Wyoming Police Department, South Carolina Department of Corrections and its Office of Inspector General, Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department, and Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Constance R. Turnbull and Jonathan Roth prosecuted the case.
The FBI provided tips for protection against sextortion schemes which include being cautious about online sharing and interactions with strangers. They emphasized that images can be altered or stolen and advised individuals to report suspicious behavior or seek help if needed.
For those who believe they are victims or have information about sextortion cases, contacting local FBI field offices or reporting online is encouraged.
