“Texas Man Arrested for Extorting Naperville Teenager with Threats of Sharing Explicit Photos: Police”

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — A Texas man was arrested after police said he extorted a suburban teenager and threatened to share explicit photos.

The incident was reported in February 2023, Naperville police said.

A male adolescent informed the authorities that he had shared intimate photos of himself with someone he believed to be a 16-year-old girl. Subsequently, the individual posing as a girl threatened to make the photos public unless he paid her.

Naperville police said the teenager sent the suspect the money, but kept demanding more cash.

After investigating, police found that Cody D. Ratliff, 39, of Kerrville, Texas was allegedly posing as the teenager girl.

On February 9, 2025, police arrested the Texas man and charged him with intimidation, a Class 3 felony. He was transported to the DuPage County Jail.

“This type of coercion is known as sextortion,” explained Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres. “Over the past two years, our department has recorded 27 cases of sextortion, with almost half of the victims being minors. It’s crucial for parents to engage in conversations with their kids about their online activities and assist them in safeguarding themselves from individuals who exploit the internet’s anonymity to target and manipulate their victims.”

Anyone in a similar situation is asked to contact Naperville police at (630) 420-6666.