(WWJ) Federal charges have been announced in connection with an international online "sextortion" scheme that authorities say caused a Michigan teen to take his own life.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totton from the Western District of Michigan on Wednesday detailed the case against three Nigerian nationals for the alleged operation of an online sextortion ring.
The alleged scheme, Totton said, involved men who posed as young women online, enticing their victims to send sexually compromising photos of themselves, and then blackmailing those victims for money.
Among the victims was 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette. From him, officials said, the blackmailers demanded $1,000. After DeMay paid them $300, he was faced with more threats.
At a news conference, Totton read an Instagram exchange between DeMay and his blackmailers from a year ago.
"I have screenshot all your 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 have to do is to cooperate with me and I won't expose you."
Totton continued, "And then Jordan, as Victim One, responds: 'I'm killing myself right now because of you.'"
According to the indictment, the blackmailers replied: "Good. Do that fast, or I'll make you do it. I swear to God."
Accused in this case are Samuel Ogoshi, 22, Samson Ogoshi, 20, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, 19, all of Lagos, Nigeria, who allegedly targeted over 100 victims in the scam across the U.S.
Charged in a federal indictment, Ogoshi, Ogoshi, and Robert will be extradited from Nigeria.
The charges are as follows:
Samuel Ogoshi is charged with Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Resulting in Death in association with the death of Jordan DeMay. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a statutory mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.
All three men with Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Minors by causing the minors to produce child pornographic images that the defendants then used to blackmail the minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.
All three men are also charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Child Pornography for sending the child pornography images to the minors, as well as their families and friends. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison.
Totton said that while nothing can bring Jordan back, his office is committed to securing justice and sending an urgent warning so others can protect themselves and their families.
"We just want victims to know that when this happens it can feel like there's nowhere to turn," Totton said. "And there are just so many people that want to help in this situation and are ready to do so. And we just want to encourage people that find themselves in that place to reach out to those who can help."
Jennifer Buta, DeMay's mother, said she hopes parents will consider speaking with their teenagers about what happened to her son.
"As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what Jordan when through that night, and how scared he was because of this senseless act," Buta said. "When we were informed that Jordan was potentially the victim of an internet scam called sextortion via Instagram, there was never a hesitation in our minds to share his story."
"Our focus going forward is to bring more awareness to children, young adults and parents," Buta added. "We urge you to have discussions about this and have a plan for your children to reach out if it does happen to them."
James Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan said that financial sextortion is a global crisis that's impacting young people in the U.S. and around the world. Tarasca said, “That’s why the FBI is working hand in hand with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to prevent youth from becoming victims of this tragic crime and to hold those who target our teens in this manner accountable – no matter where in the world they may be.”
Totten and Tarasca thanked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian law enforcement agency that arrested all three men, and other partners in Nigeria for their help with the case.
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Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, offers the following safety tips if you are a teen or the parent of a teen in this situation:
- Stop engaging with the person harassing you
- Block their account to limit further interactions
- Report them within the app immediately
- Tell a trusted friend or parent what’s happening
- Go to TakeItDown.NCMEC.org to prevent your intimate images from being spread online
- Talk to law enforcement if you feel you’ve been taken advantage of.
The FBI provides the following tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:
1. Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
2. Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
3. Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
4. Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and that person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
5. Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
6. Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone. Being a victim of sextortion is not your fault. You can get through this challenge, even if it seems scary and overwhelming. There are people who want to help.
If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov.
More FBI sexual extortion resources are available here.
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