Brothers convicted of ‘sextortion’ plot linked to teen’s death

Left: Samson Ogoshi and Samuel Ogoshi (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission). Right: Jordan DeMay with his parents Jennifer Buta and John DeMay (GoFundMe).

Two brothers from Nigeria have been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for their roles in the death of a Michigan teenager they targeted for a sex abuse plot.

Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, of Lagos, Nigeria, have been sentenced to 210 months — more than 17 years — in prison, the Justice Department announced Thursday. They pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to sexually exploit minors in connection with the death of Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old high school student who committed suicide on March 25, 2022, after the brothers targeted him in an online scan.

According to their plea agreements, while living in Nigeria, the brothers devised a plan to target more than 100 victims for sexual exploitation, including at least 11 known minors. Prosecutors said the brothers “purchased hacked social media accounts and used them to pose as young women, create fake profiles, and use the messaging functionality on the social media accounts to contact victims.”

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They also researched their victims to find out where they lived, went to school and worked, and to learn the identities of their family and friends. Armed with this information, prosecutors said, the brothers targeted their victims — asking the underage victims to produce and send sexually explicit images of themselves.

“When they received the images, they created a collage of photos that included the sexually explicit image with other images of the victim and their school, family and friends,” prosecutors said. “The Ogoshi brothers threatened to release the collages to the victim’s family, friends and classmates unless the victim agreed to pay money through online cash applications.”

Jordan “died as a result of this sextortion scheme, which also targeted more than 100 other victims,” the Justice Department said.

The Ogoshi brothers and Nigerian Ezekiel Robert were indicted in November 2022. Prosecutors detailed some of the exchanges between Jordan, referred to in the indictment as Victim 1, and the Ogoshis, who operated under the username “dani.robertts.”

dani.robertts: I took screenshots of all your followers and tags. You can send these nudes to anyone and also send your own nudes to your family and friends. Until it goes viral… All you have to do is cooperate with me and I won’t expose you.

dani.robertts: Are you going to collaborate with me?

dani.robertts: Just pay me now (just pay me now)

dani.robertts: And I won’t expose you

Victim 1: How much

dani.robertts: $1000

After Jordan paid $300, Samuel Ogoshi made more threats, prosecutors say.

dani.robertts: Bye

dani.robertts: Enjoy your miserable life

Victim 1: I’m kms now (I’m in the process of committing suicide now)

Victim 1: Because of you (because of you)

dani.robertts: Good

dani.robertts: Do that quickly

dani.robertts: Or I’ll let you do it

dani.robertts: I swear to God

According to the indictment, a second target told the brothers he did not have the $800 that “dani.robertts” demanded in exchange for the sexually explicit photos.

“I’ll make you regret your life,” the con man said. “I’ll make you commit suicide(.) I promise you, I swear(.)”

Prosecutors say Roberts is currently fighting his extradition to the US.

Federal prosecutors have also charged five U.S.-based suspects with participating in money laundering in connection with the racketeering case.

“Today’s sentencing of Samuel and Samson Ogoshi sends a thunderous message,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in the Justice Department statement. “To the criminals who carry out these plans: You are not immune from justice. We will hunt you down and hold you accountable, even if it takes us halfway around the world to do so. The days when you could commit these crimes, make easy money, destroy lives, and escape justice are over.”

Totten also urged “parents, teenagers and anyone who uses a mobile phone” to be “cautious” and remain vigilant.

“These devices can connect you to criminal networks around the world,” he said. “Don’t assume people are who they say they are. Don’t share compromising images. And if you are a victim, reach out. Help is available and law enforcement is ready.”

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Jordan’s family described him as “the perfect mix of cheerful and hardworking.”

“Jordan’s smile could light up a room,” the family said in a statement released when the charges were announced. “Jordan’s charm and beautiful smile were infectious, drawing people in wherever he went and leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met. He wanted to connect and be everyone’s friend and he did just that.”

Jordan’s mother, Jennifer Buta, told local NBC station WDIV that while the sentencing was “really a milestone,” it “doesn’t change my life because Jordan isn’t coming back.”

“But they do have time to pay for what they did to Jordan,” she added.

Buta joined the police in calling on parents to pay close attention to what their children do online.

“I think parents need to educate themselves on how social media works and really realize that this is a scam that no one is safe from,” Buta said, according to WDIV. “They need to have open conversations with their children that if someone is asking them for pictures or money, that’s a situation where they may need to go to an adult and get help, and also that these kids are victims, if they’re being targeted. They shouldn’t be embarrassed to come forward. And say, ‘This is what’s happening to me; can you please help me.'”

The charge of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of minors is punishable by a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years.

In addition to their prison sentence, the Ogoshi brothers will be placed under supervision for another five years.

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