Samuel, Samson Ogoshi sentenced to over 17 years in prison for sextortion scheme
Two Nigerian brothers, Samuel Ogoshi (24) and Samson Ogoshi (21), have been sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison by a US court for their involvement in a sextortion scam that led to the tragic suicide of a 17-year-old boy, Jordan DeMay.
The brothers, based in Lagos, Nigeria, pretended to be a young girl on Instagram, luring DeMay into sending explicit images before blackmailing him for money.
DeMay, a popular high school student from Michigan, sent money to the brothers in an attempt to prevent them from exposing the images to his friends and family. When he warned them that he was considering suicide if they continued to threaten him, their heartless response was, “Good… Do that fast – or I’ll make you do it.”
Less than six hours after their online conversation began, Jordan DeMay took his own life.
Jordan’s mother, Jenn Buta, tearfully addressed the court during the sentencing, holding pictures of her son. In her emotional victim impact statement, she said, “I am shattered to my core.” While she expressed relief that the brothers were brought to justice, she acknowledged that there was no true closure: “There is no good outcome for our family, and the pain is unimaginable.”
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Samuel and Samson Ogoshi had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to sexually exploit teenagers in the US, with DeMay being one of their 38 identified victims, 13 of whom were minors. Even after DeMay’s death, the brothers continued their sextortion scheme, targeting other young boys.
In court, the brothers, clad in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs, expressed regret for their actions. Samson Ogoshi apologised to the family, saying, “I’m sorry to the family. We made a bad decision to make money, and I wish I could change that.”
The prosecution of the Ogoshi brothers marked the first successful sextortion case involving Nigerian citizens in the US.
Sextortion is a rapidly increasing cybercrime, often linked to criminal groups in Nigeria. The Ogoshis were tracked down in Lagos and extradited to the US, a landmark achievement in international law enforcement cooperation.
The case has sent shockwaves across Nigeria, with experts hopeful that the sentencing will serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar crimes. Dr Tombari Sibe, a cybersecurity expert from Digital Footprints Nigeria, commented that sextortion has become an attractive, “bloodless crime” for young Nigerians seeking fast money. However, he stressed the importance of making examples of cases like the Ogoshis’, to show that such crimes can lead to tragic consequences, including death and long prison terms.
In Nigeria, there have been other instances of sextortion leading to suicides. In April, two Nigerian men were arrested after a teenage boy in Australia took his own life following a similar blackmail scheme. Ongoing trials in Lagos involve Nigerian suspects linked to the suicides of minors in Canada and the United States.
Cybersecurity experts in Nigeria have also been working with global law enforcement agencies to clamp down on sextortionists. Professor Adedeji Oyenuga from Lagos State University explained that the Ogoshi case has caused a ripple effect, deterring other would-be offenders. “This case has already sent a bad signal,” he said. “It might not stop everyone from turning to these crimes, but it will likely reduce the numbers.”
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Jordan DeMay’s father, John DeMay, described the trauma of finding his son dead in his bedroom and the nightmares that continue to haunt him. The family has since moved homes, trying to escape the painful memories of their loss.
Although Jordan’s family praised the police and legal system for holding the brothers accountable, the emotional toll remains immense. Jordan’s mother acknowledged that the sentencing brings little solace to the grieving families involved, saying, “I miss my son more than I can describe, but I’m sure the mother of these men is missing her sons as well. She, too, is an innocent bystander to this terrible crime.”
The Ogoshi brothers’ actions are part of a wider sextortion epidemic, particularly targeting vulnerable teenagers. Nigerian authorities, in collaboration with international partners, are continuing their efforts to curb these cybercrimes. Meanwhile, the legacy of Jordan DeMay’s tragic death serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that online exploitation can have on young lives.
For families and individuals affected by sextortion or related crimes, support is available through the BBC Action Line and other organisations that offer resources to help those struggling with similar issues.
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