Brothers receive sentencing for involvement in a ‘sextortion’ scheme connected to the tragic death of a teenager
Two brothers from Nigeria have been sentenced to nearly twenty years in prison for their involvement in the tragic death of a Michigan teenager. The brothers specifically targeted the teenager as part of a disturbing sexual exploitation scheme.
Two individuals from Lagos, Nigeria, named Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, have been handed a lengthy prison sentence of 210 months, which amounts to over 17 years. This announcement was made by the Department of Justice on Thursday. In April, they admitted to conspiring to sexually exploit minors in relation to the tragic death of Jordan DeMay. The 17-year-old high school student took his own life on March 25, 2022, after being targeted by the brothers in an online scheme.
The brothers, who resided in Nigeria, conspired to exploit over 100 victims, including at least 11 minors, as stated in their plea agreements. Prosecutors have revealed that the brothers allegedly acquired compromised social media accounts and utilized them to impersonate young women. They created fraudulent profiles and used the messaging function on these accounts to reach out to their victims.
Additionally, they conducted thorough investigations on their targets, gathering information about their residences, educational institutions, workplaces, and even the identities of their loved ones and acquaintances. With this information in hand, prosecutors assert that the brothers specifically targeted their victims, coercing them into creating and sharing explicit images of themselves.
According to prosecutors, after receiving the images, they proceeded to create a collage incorporating the sexually explicit image along with other pictures of the victim, their school, family, and friends. The Ogoshi brothers used a blackmail tactic, threatening to expose certain collages to the victim’s loved ones and peers unless the victim complied with their demand for payment through online cash applications.
The Justice Department stated that Jordan’s unfortunate demise was a direct consequence of a sextortion scheme that also victimized more than 100 other individuals.
The Ogoshi brothers and Nigerian national Ezekiel Robert were indicted in November 2022. Prosecutors provided specific information about the interactions between Jordan, identified as Victim 1 in the indictment, and the Ogoshis, who used the username “dani.robertts.”
Jordan’s payment of $300 allegedly led to an increase in threats from Samuel Ogoshi, according to prosecutors.
The indictment states that another individual informed the brothers that he did not possess the $800 that “dani.robertts” was requesting in return for the sexually explicit photos.
Prosecutors have stated that Roberts is currently battling extradition to the U.S.
Additionally, federal prosecutors have brought charges against five individuals based in the United States for their involvement in a money laundering conspiracy related to the extortion scheme.
“The sentencing of Samuel and Samson Ogoshi today delivers a powerful message,” stated U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in the DOJ’s official statement. Justice will be served to those who engage in these schemes, regardless of their belief in immunity. We are determined to locate you and ensure that you face the consequences, no matter the distance we have to travel. The era of being able to commit these crimes, profit effortlessly, ruin lives, and evade justice has come to an end.
Totten emphasized the importance of caution and vigilance for individuals who use cell phones, including parents and teenagers.
Jordan’s mother, Jennifer Buta, expressed that the sentencing was a significant moment, but acknowledged that it does not bring Jordan back and does not alter her life.
Buta also emphasized the importance of parents staying vigilant about their children’s online activities, in line with law enforcement’s advice.
The charge of conspiracy to sexually exploit minors comes with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years.
The Ogoshi brothers have been sentenced to prison time and will also be placed on supervised release for a period of five years.
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