The FBI announced that the alleged masterminds of a global sextortion operation targeted more than 100 victims and resulted in the murder of a 17-year-old boy to face charges in the United States.
Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, both of Lagos, Nigeria, were detained after a joint investigation by the FBI and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and are now in federal detention in Michigan, according to US Attorney Mark Totten.
According to court records, both men were indicted in May by a federal grand jury on accusations of conspiracy to exploit juveniles and to disseminate child pornography sexually.
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Samuel Ogoshi is also charged with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a juvenile ending in death, both carrying a possible life sentence in prison. This charge derives from an alleged online interaction that led to the death of Jordan DeMay, 17, who committed suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scheme.
According to authorities, the extradition of a third guy, Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, is pending. Last year, the bureau received hundreds of sextortion allegations from kids, representing an "exponential increase," it was aware of more than a dozen suicides linked to these scams.
According to CNN, officials have increased public awareness campaigns warning parents of the danger and initiated global investigations with overseas partners to find and apprehend culprits.
FBI notes that many sextortion schemes reported to federal authorities originate from suspects in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Prosecutors claim that Samuel Ogoshi used a hacked social media account to contact DeMay while pretending to be a young woman. Ogoshi allegedly threatened to publicly expose a sexually graphic photo of himself after convincing DeMay to submit the image.
Authorities stated DeMay paid Ogoshi $300, but Ogoshi sought more.
"Do that fast, or I'll make you do it," Ogoshi allegedly said after DeMay wrote he would take his own life.DeMay committed suicide on March 25, 2022.
