Two Nigerian brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, have been sentenced to 17 years and six months in a US prison for their involvement in a sextortion scam that led to the suicide of a 17-year-old boy, Jordan DeMay. The brothers, from Lagos, posed as a girl on Instagram and lured Jordan into sending explicit images, which they then used to blackmail him.
Jordan’s mother, Jenn Buta, described the devastating impact of the scam, saying, “I am shattered to my core.” She welcomed the sentencing but noted that there was no good outcome from the tragic case. The brothers’ defense attorneys attributed their crimes to drug abuse and the sextortion scam culture in Nigeria.
The judge condemned the brothers’ “callous disregard for life,” particularly given that they continued targeting other victims after Jordan’s death. Both brothers apologized to Jordan’s family, with Samson saying, “I’m sorry to the family. We made a bad decision to make money, and I wish I could change that.”
This case marks the first successful prosecution of Nigerians for sextortion in the US, where it is a rapidly growing cybercrime often linked to Nigeria. Researchers and law enforcement agencies point to Nigeria as a hotspot for this type of crime, with several other cases involving Nigerian nationals currently under investigation.
Nigerian authorities are working to tackle the issue, with some success in local cases. Cybersecurity experts hope that the sentencing of the Ogoshi brothers will serve as a deterrent to others involved in sextortion scams. Professor Adedeji Oyenuga noted, “The Ogoshis case has already sent a bad signal. I am hearing from street level that it is having an effect, and it might not stop criminals turning to these crimes, but it will likely reduce the numbers.”
Dr. Tombari Sibe emphasized the need for awareness, saying, “They see cybercrime as a bloodless crime, with potentially lucrative financial rewards. This case needs to be given sufficient coverage to show these young people that sextortion can lead to loss of life and long prison sentences.”
