By By Muminat Ajide
Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, from Lagos, Nigeria, were sentenced to 17 years and six months in a US prison for their involvement in a sextortion case that led to the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay.
The brothers pretended to be a young woman on Instagram and convinced Jordan to send them explicit photos. After getting the pictures, they threatened to share them publicly unless Jordan paid them a large amount of money according to BBC reports
The case is noted as the first successful prosecution of Nigerians for sextortion in the US, highlighting the alarming rise of cybercrime associated with Nigeria.
During the trial, Jordan’s mother, Jenn Buta, delivered a heart-wrenching victim impact statement in court, holding up photos of her son and expressing her devastation over his death. She lamented that there could be no positive outcome from the tragic events that unfolded.
During the trial, the defense lawyers for the Ogoshi brothers argued that their actions were influenced by drug abuse and cultural factors prevalent in Nigeria’s sextortion practices.
However, the judge condemned their behavior, describing it as a complete disregard for human life. The judge particularly highlighted their exploitation of multiple victims, including minors, across the United States.
