Two brothers from Nigeria, aged 22 and 20, pleaded guilty to sexually extorting teenage boys and young men in Michigan and across the country. The guilty plea was made in relation to the offense of conspiring to sexually exploit teenage boys, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years.
Sexual extortion, commonly known as sextortion, involves coercing individuals to send explicit photos online and then threatening to expose the images unless the victim complies with demands for money or sexual acts.
The Ogoshi brothers were accused of operating an international sextortion ring by posing as a woman. Tragically, their actions led to the suicide of a 17-year-old boy named Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan, on March 25, 2022. The brothers were alleged to have manipulated DeMay into sending a naked photo of himself and subsequently extorting him.
Following their extradition from Nigeria to face trial, the Ogoshi brothers were remanded to the custody of federal marshals after entering their guilty pleas. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten emphasized that these convictions serve as a warning to criminals worldwide that they will be pursued and brought to justice.
Totten expressed hope that the guilty pleas would offer some solace to the family of Jordan DeMay, who tragically lost his life due to the criminal actions of the defendants. DeMay's mother, Jennifer Buta, shared her relief at the progress in the case, stating her confidence in the authorities' ability to identify and prosecute those responsible for her son's untimely death.
