Nigerian Brothers Sentenced to 17 Years in US Prison for Sextortion of Teen Who Died by Suicide

Two Nigerian brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, have been sentenced to 17 years and six months in a US prison for their involvement in a sextortion scam that tragically led to the suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay.

The brothers, aged 24 and 21, were found guilty of deceiving DeMay by posing as a girl his age on Instagram. After gaining his trust, they coerced him into sending explicit images and then blackmailed him, threatening to publicly expose the photos unless he paid them.

DeMay, fearing public humiliation, complied and sent them money, pleading for leniency. He even threatened to harm himself if they followed through on their threats. In a chilling response, the brothers reportedly replied, “Good… Do that fast, or I’ll make you do it.”

Less than six hours after their initial conversation, DeMay tragically took his own life. His father, John DeMay, testified in court, describing the heart-wrenching moment he discovered his son. The family has since moved homes to escape the painful memories.

The Ogoshi brothers were extradited to the US in August 2023, following numerous allegations of sextortion targeting young men and boys on social media. They pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to exploit minors and other victims across the US, with prosecutors linking them to over 100 victims, including at least eleven minors.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned their actions, stating, “These sentences should serve as a warning that perpetrators of online sexual exploitation cannot hide behind their screens. We will find them, and justice will be served.”

During sentencing, both brothers apologized to DeMay’s family. Samson Ogoshi expressed regret, saying, “We made a terrible decision to make money, and I wish I could undo it.” Their defense attorneys argued that their actions were driven by drug abuse and the pervasive sextortion culture in Nigeria.

The judge emphasized the brothers’ “callous disregard for life,” particularly since they continued targeting other victims even after learning of DeMay’s death.

This case marks the first successful prosecution of Nigerian nationals for sextortion in the US, underscoring the rise of this cybercrime. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, recently reported removing over 63,000 accounts in Nigeria linked to sextortion schemes.