[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5749 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5749
To amend title 18, United States Code, to create offenses for the
interstate coercion of sexual acts, sexual contact, or sexually
explicit visual depictions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 13, 2016
Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself and Mrs. Brooks of Indiana)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to create offenses for the
interstate coercion of sexual acts, sexual contact, or sexually
explicit visual depictions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Interstate Sextortion Prevention
Act''.
SEC. 2. COERCION OF SEXUAL ACTS, SEXUAL CONTACT, OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
VISUAL DEPICTIONS.
(a) In General.--Part 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following new chapter:
``CHAPTER 124--COERCION OF SEXUAL ACTS, SEXUAL CONTACT, OR SEXUALLY
EXPLICIT VISUAL DEPICTIONS
``Sec.
``2751. Coercion of sexual acts.
``2752. Coercion of sexual contact.
``2753. Coercion of sexually explicit visual depictions.
``2754. Coercion using sexually explicit visual depictions.
``2755. Extortion using sexually explicit visual depictions.
``2756. Offenses involving minors.
``2757. Offenses resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
``2758. Attempt and conspiracy.
``2759. Repeat offenders.
``2760. Forfeitures.
``2761. Mandatory restitution.
``2762. Civil action.
``2763. Definitions.
``Sec. 2751. Coercion of sexual acts
``(a) In General.--Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means
of interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly coerces any person to
engage in a sexual act with another, including through fraud or threats
to injure the person, property, or reputation of any person, shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned for any number of years or for
life, or both.
``(b) Threats.--Whoever, with the intent to coerce any person to
engage in a sexual act with another, knowingly transmits any
communication containing a threat to injure the person, property, or
reputation of any person, using the mail or any facility or means of
interstate or foreign commerce, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
``Sec. 2752. Coercion of sexual contact
``(a) In General.--Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means
of interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly coerces any person to
engage in sexual contact with another, including through fraud or
threats to injure the person, property, or reputation of any person,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 10
years, or both.
``(b) Threats.--Whoever, with the intent to coerce any person to
engage in sexual contact with another, knowingly transmits any
communication containing a threat to injure the person, property, or
reputation of any person, using the mail or any facility or means of
interstate or foreign commerce, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
``Sec. 2753. Coercion of sexually explicit visual depictions
``(a) In General.--Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means
of interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly coerces another person to
produce a sexually explicit visual depiction of any person, including
through fraud or threats to injure the person, property, or reputation
of any person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more
than 20 years, or both.
``(b) Threats.--Whoever, with the intent to cause another person to
produce a sexually explicit visual depiction of any person, knowingly
transmits any communication containing a threat to injure the person,
property, or reputation of any person, using the mail or any facility
or means of interstate or foreign commerce, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
``(c) Offenses Involving Minors.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, in any case under this section involving a victim
under the age of 18 where the sexually explicit visual depiction
constitutes child pornography as defined in section 2256(8), the
offender shall be punished as provided in section 2251(e).
``(d) Definition.--In this section the term `sexually explicit
visual depiction' shall not include any computer-generated sexually
explicit visual depiction.
``Sec. 2754. Coercion using sexually explicit visual depictions
``(a) In General.--Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means
of interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly coerces another person to
engage or refrain from engaging in conduct through threats to publish
any sexually explicit visual depiction of the addressee or of an
immediate family member or intimate partner of the addressee, shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 7 years or both.
``(b) Threats.--Whoever, with the intent to coerce another person
to engage or refrain from engaging in conduct, knowingly transmits any
communication containing a threat to publish any sexually explicit
visual depiction of the addressee or of an immediate family member or
intimate partner of the addressee, using the mail or any facility or
means of interstate or foreign commerce, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
``(c) Definition.--In this section the term `sexually explicit
visual depiction' includes any computer-generated sexually explicit
visual depiction that is indistinguishable from an actual depiction of
the addressee or of an immediate family member or intimate partner of
the addressee.
``Sec. 2755. Extortion using sexually explicit visual depictions
``(a) In General.--Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means
of interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly extorts any money,
property, or other thing of value from another person through threats
to publish any sexually explicit visual depiction of the addressee or
of an immediate family member or intimate partner of the addressee,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 7 years or
both.
``(b) Threats.--Whoever, with the intent to extort any money,
property, or other thing of value from any person, knowingly transmits
any communication containing a threat to publish any sexually explicit
visual depiction of the addressee or of an immediate family member or
intimate partner of the addressee, using the mail or any facility or
means of interstate or foreign commerce, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
``(c) Definition.--In this section the term `sexually explicit
visual depiction' includes any computer-generated sexually explicit
visual depiction that is indistinguishable from an actual depiction of
the addressee or of an immediate family member or intimate partner of
the addressee.
``Sec. 2756. Offenses involving minors
``(a) Offenses Involving Minors Under 18.--If the conduct that
violates this chapter involves an individual, whether real or
fictional, who has attained the age of 12 years but has not attained
the age of 18 years, the maximum term of imprisonment authorized for
that offense shall be increased by 5 years in addition to any penalty
otherwise provided in this chapter.
``(b) Offenses Involving Minors Under 12.--If the conduct that
violates this chapter involves an individual, whether real or
fictional, who has not attained the age of 12 years, the maximum term
of imprisonment authorized for that offense shall be twice that
otherwise provided in this chapter.
``Sec. 2757. Offenses resulting in death or serious bodily injury
``(a) Offenses Resulting in Death.--A person who commits a
violation of this chapter that results in the death of any person,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any number of years
or for life, or both.
``(b) Offenses Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.--A person who
commits a violation of this chapter that results in serious bodily
injury to any person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not
more than 20 years, or both.
``Sec. 2758. Attempt and conspiracy
``Whoever attempts or conspires to violate this chapter shall be
punishable in the same manner as a completed violation of this chapter.
``Sec. 2759. Repeat offenders
``(a) Maximum Term of Imprisonment.--The maximum term of
imprisonment authorized for a violation of section 2751(a) or 2752(a)
after a prior sex offense conviction shall be twice the term of
imprisonment otherwise provided by this chapter, unless section 3559(e)
applies.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `prior sex offense conviction' means a
conviction for an offense--
``(A) under chapter 109A, chapter 110, chapter 117
or section 1591, 2751(a), 2752(a); or
``(B) under State law or the Uniform Code of
Military Justice involving an offense described in
subparagraph (A) or would be such an offense if
committed under circumstances supporting federal
jurisdiction; and
``(2) the term `State' means a State of the United States,
the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or
possession of the United States.
``Sec. 2760. Forfeitures
``(a) In General.--The court, in imposing sentence on any person
convicted of a violation of this chapter, shall order, in addition to
any other sentence imposed and irrespective of any provision of State
law, that such person shall forfeit to the United States--
``(1) such person's interest in any property, real or
personal, that was used or intended to be used to commit or to
facilitate the commission of such violation; and
``(2) any property, real or personal, constituting or
derived from any proceeds that such person obtained, directly
or indirectly, as a result of such violation.
``(b) Property Subject to Forfeiture.--
``(1) In general.--The following shall be subject to
forfeiture to the United States and no property right shall
exist in them:
``(A) any property, real or personal, used or
intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the
commission of any violation of this chapter;
``(B) any property, real or personal, that
constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to
any violation of this chapter; and
``(C) any sexually explicit visual depiction which
was produced or used in violation of this chapter.
``(2) Applicability of chapter 46.--The provisions of
chapter 46 of this title relating to civil forfeitures shall
apply to any seizure or civil forfeiture under this subsection.
``(c) Transfer of Forfeited Assets.--
``(1) In general.--The Attorney General is authorized to
transfer assets forfeited pursuant to this section, or the
proceeds derived from the sale thereof, to satisfy victim
restitution orders arising from violations of this chapter.
``(2) Use of non-forfeited assets.--Transfers pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall not reduce or otherwise mitigate the
obligation of a person convicted of a violation of this chapter
to satisfy the full amount of a restitution order through the
use of non-forfeited assets or to reimburse the Attorney
General for the value of assets or proceeds transferred under
this subsection through the use of non-forfeited assets.
``Sec. 2761. Mandatory restitution
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 3663 or 3663A, and in
addition to any other civil or criminal penalty authorized by law, the
court shall order restitution for any offense under this chapter.
``(b) Scope and Nature of Order.--
``(1) Directions.--The order of restitution under this
section shall direct the defendant to pay to the victim
(through the appropriate court mechanism) the full amount of
the victim's losses as determined by the court pursuant to
paragraph (2).
``(2) Enforcement.--An order of restitution under this
section shall be issued and enforced in accordance with section
3664 in the same manner as an order under section 3663A.
``(3) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the
term `full amount of the victim's losses' includes any costs
incurred by the victim for--
``(A) medical services relating to physical,
psychiatric, or psychological care;
``(B) physical and occupational therapy or
rehabilitation;
``(C) necessary transportation, temporary housing,
and child care expenses;
``(D) lost income;
``(E) attorneys' fees, plus any costs incurred in
obtaining a civil protection order; and
``(F) any other losses suffered by the victim as a
proximate result of the offense.
``(4) Order mandatory.--
``(A) The issuance of a restitution order under
this section is mandatory.
``(B) A court may not decline to issue an order
under this section because of--
``(i) the economic circumstances of the
defendant; or
``(ii) the fact that a victim has, or is
entitled to, receive compensation for his or
her injuries from the proceeds of insurance or
any other source.
``(c) Transfer of Crime Victim's Rights.--In the case of a victim
who is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased,
the legal guardian of the victim or representative of the victim's
estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as
suitable by the court, may assume the crime victim's rights under this
chapter, but in no event shall the defendant be named as such
representative or guardian.
``Sec. 2762. Civil action
``(a) In General.--An individual who is a victim of offenses under
this chapter may bring a civil action against the perpetrator (or
whoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of
value from participation in a venture which that person knew or should
have known has engaged in an act in violation of this chapter) in an
appropriate district court of the United States and may recover damages
and reasonable attorney's fees.
``(b) Stay Pending Criminal Action.--
``(1) Any civil action filed under this section shall be
stayed during the pendency of any criminal action arising out
of the same occurrence in which the claimant is the victim.
``(2) In this subsection, the term `criminal action'
includes an investigation and prosecution that is pending,
until final adjudication in the trial court.
``(c) Statute of Limitations.--No action may be maintained under
this section unless it is commenced not later than the later of--
``(1) 10 years after the cause of action arose; or
``(2) 10 years after the victim reaches 18 years of age, if
the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged offense.
``Sec. 2763. Definitions
``In this chapter:
``(1) Sexual act.--The term `sexual act' means--
``(A) any genital to genital, oral to genital, anal
to genital, or oral to anal contact, not through the
clothing;
``(B) the penetration, however slight, of the anal
or genital opening of any person by a hand or finger or
by any object; or
``(C) the intentional touching, not through the
clothing, of the genitalia of or by any person.
``(2) Sexual contact.--The term `sexual contact' means the
intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing,
of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks
of any person.
``(3) Produce.--The term `produce' means to create, make,
manufacture, photograph, film, videotape, record, or transmit.
``(4) Sexually explicit visual depiction.--The term
`sexually explicit visual depiction' means any photograph,
film, video, or other recording or live transmission of a
person, whether produced by electronic, mechanical, or other
means (including depictions that are not stored in a permanent
format), that depicts--
``(A) the lascivious exhibition of the anus, the
post-pubescent female nipple, the genitals, or the
pubic area of any person;
``(B) any actual or simulated sexual contact or
sexual act;
``(C) bestiality; or
``(D) sadistic or masochistic conduct.
``(5) Victim.--The term `victim' means the individual
harmed as a result of a commission of a crime under this
chapter.
``(6) Minor.--The term `minor' means any person who has not
attained the age of 18 years.
``(7) Publish.--The term `publish' means to circulate,
deliver, distribute, disseminate, transmit, or otherwise make
available to another person.
``(8) Immediate family member.--The term `immediate family
member' means the addressee's--
``(A) spouse, parent, brother, sister, child, or
person to whom the addressee stands in loco parentis;
or
``(B) any other person living in the addressee's
household and related to the addressee by blood or
marriage.
``(9) Intimate partner.--The term `intimate partner' means
a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a
romantic or intimate nature with the addressee, as determined
by the length of the relationship, the type of relationship,
and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved
in the relationship.
``(10) Computer-generated sexually explicit visual
depiction.--The term `computer-generated sexually explicit
visual depiction' means a depiction that has been created,
adapted, or modified through the use of any computer technology
to appear to be a sexually explicit visual depiction.
``(11) Indistinguishable.--The term `indistinguishable',
means virtually indistinguishable, in that the computer-
generated sexually explicit visual depiction is such that an
ordinary person viewing the computer-generated depiction would
conclude that it is an actual depiction of the addressee or of
an immediate family member or intimate partner of the
addressee. This definition does not apply to depictions that
are drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings depicting any
person.
``(12) Actual depiction.--The term `actual depiction' means
a depiction that has not been fabricated or materially altered
to change the appearance or physical characteristics of the
persons, objects, or activities depicted.
``(13) Serious bodily injury.--The term `serious bodily
injury' means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of
death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, protracted and
obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the
function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters at the beginning of
part 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended adding at the end
the following new item:
``Chapter 124--Coercion of Sexual Acts, Sexual Contact, or Sexually
Explicit Visual Depictions''.
(c) Directive to United States Sentencing Commission.--
(1) In general.--Pursuant to its authority under section
994(p) of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with
this section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall
review and amend its guidelines and its policy statements
applicable to persons convicted of an offense defined in
chapter 124 added to title 18, United States Code, by this Act,
to ensure that the guidelines and policy statements are
consistent with those amendments and reflect the intent of
Congress that the guidelines reflect the seriousness and great
harm caused by those offenses.
(2) Considerations.--In carrying out this section, the
United States Sentencing Commission shall consider--
(A) the mandate of the United States Sentencing
Commission, pursuant to its authority under section
994(p) of title 28, United States Code, to promulgate
guidelines that meet the purposes of sentencing as set
forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18, and in
particular to ensure that sentencing courts properly
consider the seriousness of the offense, to promote
respect for the law, to provide just punishment for the
offense, to afford adequate deterrence to criminal
conduct, and to protect the public from further crimes
of the defendant; and
(B) the intent of Congress that the penalties for
defendants convicted of an offense under that chapter
are appropriately severe and account for the nature of
the visual depiction, the acts engaged in, and the
potential harm resulting from the offense; the number
and age of the victims involved; and the degree to
which the victims have been harmed.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING STATUTORY OFFENSES.
(a) Section 843 Art. 43(b)(2)(C) of title 10, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ``, 2751(a), or 2752(a)'' after ``section
1591''.
(b) Section 1001(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``2751(a), or 2752(a),'' after ``section 1591,''.
(c) Section 2251(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``section 2751(a), section 2752(a),'' after ``section
1591,''.
(d) Section 2252(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (1) by inserting ``section 2751(a),
section 2752(a),'' after ``section 1591,''; and
(2) in subsection (2) by inserting ``section 2751(a),
section 2752(a),'' after ``under this chapter,''.
(e) Section 2252A(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (1) by inserting ``section 2751(a),
section 2752(a),'' after ``section 1591,''; and
(2) in subsection (2) by inserting ``section 2751(a),
section 2752(a),'' after ``under this chapter,''.
(f) Section 2252A(g) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``or section 2751(a) or 2752(a) (involving a minor victim),''
after ``117 (involving a minor victim),''.
(g) Section 2255(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after ``2422,''; and
(2) inserting ``, 2751(a), 2752(a), or 2753(a)'' after
``2423''.
(h) Section 2260A of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after ``2423,''; and
(2) by inserting ``2751(a), or 2752(a),'' after ``2425,''.
(i) Section 2426(b)(1)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after ``chapter 110,''; and
(2) by inserting ``, section 2751(a), or section 2752(a)''
after ``section 1591''.
(j) Section 2516(1)(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended
by inserting ``sections 2751, 2752, 2753, 2754, and 2755 (relating to
coercion of sexual acts and related crimes),'' after ``2425 (relating
to transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes),''.
(k) Section 3014(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (5) as subsection (6);
(2) in subsection (4), by striking ``or'' at the end; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (4) the following:
``(5) section 2751(a), 2752(a), or 2753(a) (relating to
coercion of sexual acts and related crimes); or''.
(l) Section 3142 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``or'' after ``2423,''; and
(B) by inserting ``, 2751(a), or 2752(a)'' after
``2425''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(3)(E)--
(A) by striking ``or'' after ``2423,''; and
(B) by inserting ``, 2751(a), or 2752(a)'' after
``2425''.
(m) Section 3156(a)(4)(C) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``section 2751(a), 2752(a), or'' after ``any
felony under''.
(n) Section 3282(b) of title 18, United States Code is amended--
(1) in subsection (1), by inserting ``or section 2751(a)''
after ``chapter 109A''; and
(2) in subsection (2), by inserting ``or section 2751(a)''
after ``chapter 109A''.
(o) Section 3299 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``, 2751(a), or 2752(a)'' after ``section 1591''.
(p) Section 3553(b)(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``2751(a), 2752(a), or 2753(a),'' after ``section
1591,''.
(q) Section 3559(c)(2)(F)(i) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``coerced sexual act (as described in section
2751(a));'' after ``sexual abuse (as described in sections 2241 and
2242)''.
(r) Section 3559(e)(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after ``2422(b) (relating to
coercion and enticement of a minor into prostitution),''; and
(2) by inserting ``, or 2751(a) (relating to coercion of
sexual acts);'' after ``2423(a) (relating to transportation of
minors)''.
(s) Section 3583(k) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after ``2423,'';
(2) by inserting ``, 2751(a), or 2752(a)'' after ``2425'';
(3) by striking ``or'' after ``section 1201,'' the second
place it occurs; and
(4) by inserting ``2751(a), or 2752(a),'' after ``1591,''
the second place it occurs.
(t) Section 3(d)(2) of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of
2000 (4 U.S.C. 14135a(d)(2)) is amended by inserting ``or section
2751(a)'' after ``chapter 109A''.
(u) Section 2(1) of the PROTECT our Children Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C.
17601(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after ``chapter 110,''; and
(2) by inserting ``, and chapter 124'' after ``chapter
117''.
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