Left: Samson Ogoshi and Samuel Ogoshi (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission). Right: Jordan DeMay with his parents Jennifer Buta and John DeMay (GoFundMe).
A pair of brothers from Nigeria have been ordered to spend almost two decades behind bars for their role in the death of a Michigan teenager who they targeted in a sexual exploitation scheme.
Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, of Lagos, Nigeria, were sentenced to 210 months — more than 17 years — in prison, the Department of Justice announced on 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 died by suicide on March 25, 2022, after the brothers targeted him in an online scan.
According to their plea agreements, the brothers, while living in Nigeria, plotted to target more than 100 victims for sexual exploitation, including at least 11 known minors. According to prosecutors, the brothers “purchased hacked social media accounts and used them to pose as young women, making fake profiles and using the messaging feature 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, as well as the identities of their family and friends. Armed with this information, prosecutors said, the brothers took aim at their targets — soliciting the minor victims to produce and send sexually explicit images of themselves.
“Once they received the images, they created a collage of pictures 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 disclose the collages to the family, friends, and classmates of the victim unless the victim agreed to pay money using online cash applications.”
Jordan “died as a result of this sextortion scheme, which targeted over 100 other victims, as well,” the Justice Department said.
The Ogoshi brothers and Nigerian national 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 user name “dani.robertts.”
dani.robertts: I have screenshot all ur followers and tags can send this nudes to everyone and also send your nudes to your Family and friends Until it goes viral … All you’ve to do is to cooperate with me and I won’t expose you
dani.robertts: Are you gonna cooperate with me
dani.robertts: Just pay me rn [Just pay me right 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: Goodbye
dani.robertts: Enjoy your miserable life
Victim 1: I’m kms rn [I’m kill myself right now]
Victim 1: Bc of you [Because of you]
dani.robertts: Good
dani.robertts: Do that fast
dani.robertts: Or I’ll make you do it
dani.robertts: I swear to God
According to the indictment, a second target told the brothers that he didn’t have the $800 that “dani.robertts” was demanding in exchange for the sexually explicit photos.
“I will make you regret you life,” the scammer said. “I will make u commit suicide[.] I promise you I swear[.]”
Roberts is currently fighting extradition to the U.S., prosecutors said.
Federal prosecutors have also indicted five U.S.-based defendants with conspiring to commit money laundering in connection with the extortion scheme.
“Today’s sentencing of Samuel and Samson Ogoshi sends a thundering message,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in the DOJ 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 half-way 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.”
Totten also urged “parents, teenagers, and everyone who uses a cell phone” to “be careful” and stay 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’re a victim, please reach out. There’s help, and law enforcement stands ready.”
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Jordan’s family described him as “the perfect mix of fun-loving and hard-working.”
“Jordan’s smile could light up any room,” the family said in a statement issued when the indictment was announced. “Jordan’s charm and beautiful smile were contagious, drawing people to him 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 affiliate WDIV that although sentencing was “really a landmark day,” it “doesn’t change my life in that Jordan is not coming back.”
“But they do have their time to serve for what they did to Jordan,” she added.
Buta also echoed law enforcement’s call for parents to stay aware of what their kids are doing online.
“I think parents need to educate themselves about how social media works and really let it sink in that this is a scam that nobody is safe from,” Buta said, according to WDIV. “They need to have open conversations with their children that if anyone asks them for photos or money, that’s a situation where they may need to go to an adult to seek help, and also, these kids are the victims in this, if they are targeted. They should not be ashamed to come forward. And say, ‘This is what I have going on; can you please help me.””
The charge of conspiracy to sexually exploit minors carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years with a maximum of 30 years.
In addition to prison time, the Ogoshi brothers will spend five years on supervised release.
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