Authorities have uncovered a sextortion scheme involving individuals from various states, resulting in a tragic suicide. Five Americans have admitted to money laundering as part of a scheme orchestrated by Nigerian scammers, which ultimately led to the death of a teenager in Michigan.
The individuals involved, including residents from Georgia and Alabama, confessed to using online payment methods to receive proceeds from sextortion and transferring the funds to a Nigerian contact known as “The Plug.” The Nigerian brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, posed as a woman on Instagram using a hacked account to blackmail the teenager into sending money until he took his own life in March 2022.
After a series of legal proceedings, the Ogoshi brothers were extradited to the U.S. and sentenced to over 17 years in prison for their role in the sextortion scheme, which affected numerous victims. The FBI has highlighted sextortion as a growing trend, with thousands of reported cases involving minors being coerced into sending explicit images or blackmail money.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of sextortion and the importance of vigilance when using social media platforms. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for support.
Samuel Ogoshi repeatedly demanded increasing amounts of money from the 17-year-old Jordan during a prolonged exchange that lasted through the night. The situation escalated to the point where Jordan threatened to take his own life. This distressing case involving Nigerian men facing U.S. justice in a sextortion scheme ultimately led to the tragic suicide of the teen.
“Go ahead,” Samuel wrote callously. “Do it quickly, or I will force you. I swear on God.” The distressing chain of events began when Jordan engaged in conversations with an individual he believed to be a woman named “dani.robertts” on Instagram.
The Ogoshi brothers orchestrated a scheme that involved instructing victims like Jordan to transfer money through platforms like Apple Pay, Cash App, and Zelle to accounts controlled by money launderers in Georgia and Alabama. These intermediaries would retain a portion of the funds and convert the rest into bitcoin, which was then forwarded to a figure known as “The Plug” in Nigeria. “The Plug” would extract a share for himself before passing on the remaining amount to the Ogoshi brothers, the perpetrators of the sextortion.
John DeMay highlighted the challenge of converting American currency directly into Nigerian money, which is why scammers opt for bitcoin as it is harder for authorities to trace. This growing trend of ‘sextortion’ exploits boys by luring them into sending explicit images through gaming sites, subsequently extorting money from them.
U.S. Attorney Birge emphasized that those who profited from this despicable scheme would face legal repercussions. The offenders, including the Ogoshi brothers, could potentially serve up to 20 years in prison for their conspiracy. DeMay, spurred by personal tragedy, has transformed his grief into advocacy by raising awareness about sextortion and advocating for legislation to safeguard minors online.
The suspect linked to Jordan’s tragic death, 20-year-old Samson Ogoshi, was one of three individuals arrested in Lagos for hacking Instagram accounts and engaging in sexual extortion against numerous young men online. The FBI highlighted that victims of sextortion, typically aged between 14 and 17, are at risk of grave consequences, including suicide.
Sextortion cases involving minors have surged, with a significant number of victims being boys. To combat this threat, the FBI has noted the importance of preventive measures and intervention. Programs like the “Take it Down” service by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children aim to support victims of sextortion in removing explicit content from circulation online.
DeMay actively supports the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) to enhance protections for children online, which is set to be reintroduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal. As the fight against sextortion continues, it is crucial to raise awareness, implement safeguards, and support legislative efforts to safeguard vulnerable individuals from online exploitation.
