A Michigan judge has sentenced Nigerian brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi to 17 1/2 years in prison for their involvement in a sextortion scheme that led to the suicide of a Michigan teenager named Jordan DeMay in 2022. This case marks the first time that Nigerian sextortion scammers have been extradited to the United States and sentenced to prison. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker handed down the decision, emphasizing that justice will be served no matter where criminals may try to hide. Sextortion involves tricking victims, many of whom are minors, into engaging in sexual acts or sending money through blackmail. The FBI urges caution to all individuals who may be vulnerable to online schemes and encourages victims to seek help.
Jordan DeMay was just 17 years old when he fell victim to Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, who posed as a woman on Instagram and blackmailed him into sending money. The exchange quickly escalated, with Ogoshi demanding more and more from the teenager until Jordan felt he had no choice but to end his life. The FBI has received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion between October 2021 and March 2023, with at least 100 victims targeted by the Ogoshi brothers. These perpetrators meticulously researched their victims and used their personal information to extort money from them. Experts warn that giving in to scammers’ demands will only lead to more threats, creating a sense of hopelessness for victims trapped in a vicious cycle.
The sentence imposed on the Ogoshi brothers sends a clear message that sextortion will not be tolerated and that justice will be pursued no matter the lengths to which criminals go to evade it. Defense attorneys tried to portray the brothers as victims themselves, citing a traumatic past and drug use to explain their actions. The FBI has stepped up efforts to raise awareness about sextortion, especially among vulnerable age groups, and provides resources to help victims erase explicit images and seek assistance. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a free service called “Take it Down” to help victims of sextortion.
The FBI reports that the average age of sextortion victims is between 14 and 17 years old, but anyone can become a target. Offenders of financially motivated sextortion are often from African and Southeast Asian countries, with a significant increase in incidents involving minors. Sextortion has been linked to suicide and self-harm, with reports of at least 20 suicides between October 2021 and March 2023. The tragic case of Jordan DeMay serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the devastating impact their actions can have on vulnerable individuals. It is crucial for parents, teenagers, and people of all ages to exercise caution when using social media and to seek help if they become victims of sextortion.
