The United States Attorney’s Office on Thursday revealed that two Nigerian men involved in a sextortion case, which resulted in the tragic death of a Michigan teenager, have each been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, from Lagos, Nigeria, will begin their 210-month sentences following five years of supervised release, as stated in a news release.
The siblings faced charges for conspiring to sexually exploit minors.
Federal officials explained that the over 100 people were targeted in the sextortion scheme including 17-year-old Marquette high school student Jordan DeMay, who committed suicide in March 2022.
The men faced accusations of operating an international sextortion ring by exploiting hacked social media accounts. They posed as a woman to persuade DeMay into sending an explicit photo, which they then used for extortion.
Charged in November 2022, the brothers were extradited to the U.S. in 2023 and entered guilty pleas in April 2024.
“Today’s sentencing of Samuel and Samson Ogoshi sends a thundering message,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a written statement. “To criminals who commit these schemes: you are not immune from justice. We will track you down and hold you accountable, even if we have to go halfway around the world to do so. The day when you could commit these crimes, rake in easy cash, destroy lives, and escape justice is gone.”
Prior to sentencing, the court heard deeply emotional testimony from DeMay’s parents and stepmother.
His mother, Jennifer Buta, informed the court during Samuel Ogoshi’s sentencing that her son’s death had left her “shattered to the core, infuriated and trapped in grief.” She said the last text her son sent her was “Mother I love you” — a text she awoke to and thought was endearing until she learned that Jordan had killed himself in his bedroom.
During her tearful testimony, DeMay’s stepmother, Jessica DeMay, stated that she and Jordan’s other relatives will “never again experience pure joy” because every happy moment will be overshadowed by “a small cloud of sadness around it” resulting from Jordan’s death.
John DeMay, Jordan’s father, told the court he is haunted by the image of “my son laying on his bed dead with a gunshot wound to his head.” The family informed CBS News that they were “no idea what happened” on social media.
“Jordan was an amazing young man. He was resilient, he was smart, he was educated, he was an athlete. He was my only son. And you got to talk to him for the last time in his life. That’s horrifying to me,” John DeMay said in court.
A few years after the teen’s death, the “Report Act” was signed into law in 2024, mandating that social media companies to report crimes involving child sex trafficking, grooming or enticement to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s cyber tip line.
It also imposes stricter penalties on those who fail to report such content.
