MARQUETTE (WWJ) - Two Nigerian men have been extradited to the United States after being indicted for their roles in an international sexual extortion ring. The pair is expected in a Grand Rapids courtroom for the first time Monday.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that 22-year-old Samuel Ogoshi and 20-year-old Samson Ogoshi of Lagos, Nigeria, have been extradited to face prosecution after being indicted in May 2023.
The men have been charged with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.
Totten said the Ogoshis, as well as another Nigerian, Ezekiel Robert, purchased multiple hacked social media accounts and used them to sexually extort numerous young men and teenage boys in the Western District of Michigan and across the U.S.
Samuel Ogoshi was also charged with causing the death of DeMay. Ogoshi is said to have used one of the accounts to create the Instagram handle "Danni Roberts."
"Over the course of a short conversation," Totten said. "Samuel Ogoshi, pretending to be this young woman, persuaded Jordan to send a sexually explicit image of himself. Once Samuel Ogoshi had that sexually explicit image in his hand, he then turned to extort Jordan DeMay for money."
DeMay is said to have paid what he could, sending $300. However, Ogoshi, as Danni Roberts, threatened to send the images to DeMay's family and friends unless the teen sent more money.
"A few hours later, Jordan told Samuel Ogoshi that he was now taking his life," Totten explained. "And Samuel Ogoshi, responding through the Instagram persona of Danni Roberts, told him, 'Do that fast, or I'll make you do it.' Jordan DeMay then took his life."
FBI Michigan Special Agent in Charge Devin Kowalski said they followed the suspects' digital footprint.
"This was a multi-faceted investigation that involved identifying hundreds of victims," Kowalski said. "Following the digital footprints left behind by these sextortionists on the internet. Tracking the payments made by victims through multiple financial entities and working with our overseas office in Nigeria and our Nigerian counterpart."
Investigators are still working to extradite Robert. A grand jury alleged the three defendants attempted to extort more than 100 people this same way.
The initial court appearance takes place Monday afternoon.
Stay with WWJ as we follow this story.
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