Sexual exploitation of at least eight young boys

April 10, 2024 - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Ian Jason Lipsky, age 51, of East Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children.                  

“Lipsky is a serial offender whose sexual exploitation spanned years, from California to Michigan,” said U.S. Mark Attorney Totten. “Today’s sentence ensures he will never harm another child. Lipsky used the internet and social media to access minor boys. Parents, guardians, loved ones, and anyone online must understand that predators are trolling social media.  Candid conversations with our kids are so important: educating them about the threats; keeping them out of harm’s way; and ensuring they have a safe space to share what happened if they are harmed.”

            Between 2013 and 2020, Lipsky used Skype, Reddit, Snapchat, and Kik to communicate with at least eight minor boys. His sexual exploitation began in California and continued after he moved to Michigan.  From his residence in Daly City, California, Lipsky encouraged minor victims ages 12 to 16 years old to perform sexual acts on camera or take sexually explicit photos of themselves. Lipsky would then screen record these interactions and save them to encrypted hard drives. In at least two separate instances, Lipsky escalated these interactions to in-person sexual exploitation. While living in California, Lipsky persuaded two boys, ages 14 and 17 at the time, to meet him at his residence to engage in sexual activities. In 2018, Lipsky moved from California to Michigan, where he continued to sexually exploit and solicit explicit content from minor victims, ages 15 to 16, online.  

“For too long, Mr. Lipsky exploited and victimized young boys from as far away as California to right here in our great state of Michigan,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Today's sentencing is a testament to the FBI and our partners' daily work across the country to combat sexual exploitation, particularly against minors. Those who engage in such crimes will face justice.”

The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:

• Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
• Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
• Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
• Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
• Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
• Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone.

If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov. More information is available at https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.

            This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov.  Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by the FBI.  
Source: DOJ Release