MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were each sentenced to 210 months or 17.5 years in prison for the crime of Sextorsion that led to the death of 17-year-old, Marquette teen Jordan DeMay. Upon release, they will be placed on 5 years of supervision. The Ogoshi brothers pled guilty in April to conspiring to sexually exploit a minor. A crime that could have cost the Nigerians 30 years in prison.
Jordan DeMay took his own life after exchanging explicit photographs with the Ogoshi under false pretenses. The Ogoshi brothers then threatened to distribute to Jordan’s friends and family, nude photos of DeMay unless he paid them $1000.00. Eventually, Jordan paid them $300, but the exploitation kept coming, leading to a pressured and terrified DeMay to take his own life. US attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten explains the magnitude of this case.
“In the case of Jordan DeMay, we know that the two defendants who were sentenced today, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, were part of a scheme that even encouraged Jordan DeMay to take his life when he could no longer give them money,” said Totten.
Jennifer Buta, Jordan’s mother, spoke after the sentencing.
“At the end of the day, someone is being held accountable for what they did to Jordan, and while no sentence that could have been given out today will bring him back, it does give some justice, Said Buta.
John DeMay, Jordan’s father, is on a campaign to educate families about the dangers facing kids on the internet.
“We’re going to keep pressing forward and help kids and parents and families and schools and law enforcement understand this impact, to understand this crime and the impact that it has on people, explained DeMay. And how to better process these things when they do happen, and how to formulate ways to prevent them from happening.”
Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt sees the sentencing as a monumental victory with worldwide implications.
“We are sending out that message to people all over the world,” said Sheriff Zyburt, “that yes, we will come and get you.”