MICHIGAN, USA – Tragedy struck in March last year when Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old from Michigan, took his own life after falling prey to a ruthless blackmail scheme.
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten, announced that three Nigerian men have been indicted for their alleged involvement in the extortion plot that led to DeMay’s untimely death.
Samuel Ogoshi, 22, Samson Ogochi, 20, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, 19, all residents of Lagos, Nigeria, are now awaiting extradition to the United States.
The federal indictment unsealed today accuses the three men of extorting money from numerous young men and teenage boys across the country.
In the case of DeMay’s demise, Samuel Ogoshi faces charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, leading to death. This charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum of 30 years behind bars.
The trio is also accused of conspiring to sexually exploit minors, distributing child pornography, and committing cyberstalking. The respective maximum sentences for these charges are 30 years, 20 years, and five years in prison. The first two charges have minimum sentences of 15 years and five years in prison.
According to the grand jury, the defendants allegedly purchased compromised social media accounts, using them to impersonate young women.
They then targeted teenagers and young adult males, luring them into sexual conversations.
The alleged extortionist shockingly responded with “Good” upon learning that Jordan had ended his own life.
While investigating his suicide, the police received information from one of Jordan’s friends, who revealed that the culprits had also reached out to her.
“Jordan DeMay’s tragic death exposed a sinister web of exploitation and cruelty that has shattered the lives of countless young people,” Totten stated in a press conference held earlier on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
DeMay was discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 25, 2022, prompting a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department.
This intensive probe has culminated in today’s indictment, which sheds light on the scale and impact of the blackmail operation.
In the wake of this devastating loss, DeMay’s family has urged parents to be vigilant about their children’s online activities and maintain open lines of communication.
“We cannot bring Jordan back, but we can work together to prevent this from happening to other families,” said DeMay’s father, tearfully, at the press conference.
As the legal process moves forward, the families of the victims hope that justice will be served and that the tragic death of Jordan DeMay will mark the beginning of the end for this ruthless criminal enterprise.
