Ogoshi Brothers Plead Guilty in U.S. Court for Sextortion Leading to Tragic Suicide, Risk 30 Years Jail Term

Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to sexually exploit teenage boys across the United States. The guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten.

The Ogoshi brothers, facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, admitted to their roles in creating fake accounts, luring victims, and extorting them. Their cooperation in the prosecution of others has been promised as part of their plea agreement.

This case gained international attention following the tragic suicide of an American boy, Jordan DeMay, as a result of the sextortion scheme orchestrated by the Ogoshi brothers. U.S. Attorney Totten emphasized the significance of these convictions, stating, “Today’s guilty pleas represent an extraordinary success in the prosecution of international sextortion.”

Despite the progress made with the Ogoshi brothers’ guilty pleas, the legal saga continues as the extradition of the third defendant, Ezekiel Robert, is pending. Robert, who has appealed the Nigerian court’s decision to extradite him to the United States, awaits a ruling from the Nigerian High Court.

Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, highlighted the severity of financial sextortion targeting minors and urged the public to remain vigilant. She encouraged individuals to report any suspicions of sextortion to the FBI.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Mekaru and Davin Reust, involved collaborative efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Marquette Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan State Police Cybercrimes Unit. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria also provided crucial assistance in the investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office – Ministry of Justice played instrumental roles in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendants.

While the charges against Ezekiel Robert remain pending, it’s essential to remember that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.