Two Nigerian Men Extradited to the US for Sexual Extortion Charges Following Death of Michigan Teenager
Two Nigerian men have been extradited to the United States to face charges of sexually extorting teenage boys and young men across Michigan and the country. The suspects, Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, are scheduled to appear in court on Monday at the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids, according to U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.
The Ogoshi brothers stand accused of orchestrating an international sextortion ring, in which they posed as a woman to target victims. Tragically, this criminal activity led to the untimely death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot on March 25, 2022.
The charges against the two men include conspiracy to sexually exploit minors, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, and conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet. Additionally, Samuel Ogoshi is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death. These indictments were made in May.
Sextortion, a form of sexual extortion, involves coercing victims into sending explicit photos online and subsequently threatening to disclose the images unless the victims comply with the perpetrators’ demands for money or sexual favours. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten emphasized the seriousness of these offences, stating in a news release, “Sextortion is a horrible crime.” He vowed to pursue the culprits globally and encouraged victims to seek assistance.
The exact number of victims affected by the Ogoshi brothers’ sextortion activities was not disclosed. Furthermore, it has not been confirmed whether the two suspects are related.
As of now, there are no listed attorneys for the Ogoshi brothers in the online court records to provide comments on the allegations against them.
It is truly disheartening to learn about the disturbing crimes allegedly committed by these individuals. The extradition of the Nigerian men to the United States underscores the government’s commitment to seeking justice for victims of such reprehensible acts.
The forthcoming legal proceedings against them will hopefully bring a measure of closure to the victims and their families. Additionally, it sends a powerful message that individuals who engage in exploitation and extortion, regardless of their location, will be pursued and held accountable for their actions.
