GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WTAQ-WLUC) – Two men indicted after the death of an Upper Michigan teen faced a U.S. judge for the first time on Monday.
The suspects were extradited to the United States to face sextortion charges. Cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom.
The two brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, are facing multiple counts for their role in what investigators say is an international sextortion ring, brought to light through the investigation into the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay.
Sextortion — or sexual extortion — is the practice of extorting money or sexual favors from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity.
It was an emotional day in court. This was the first time DeMay’s family saw the defendants in person, and the family was brought to tears throughout the 30-minute hearing.
The two men sat mostly quiet, answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions from the judge. One of the brothers was visibly shaking throughout.
At Monday’s hearing, the judge ensured the defendants understood the charges against them, read the indictment, and assigned them court-appointed attorneys.
DeMay died by suicide in March of 2022 after police say he was sextorted through a fake Instagram account. Investigators locally and on the state and federal levels and internationally have been working diligently since then to find those responsible.
Sextortion crimes are often left unsolved, but DeMay’s case — and the work done to find these men — is changing how these cases will be handled in the future.
“This was a multifaceted investigation that involved identifying hundreds of victims, following the digital footprints left behind by these sextortionists on the Internet, tracking the payments made by victims through multiple financial entities, and working with our overseas office in Nigeria and our Nigerian counterparts,” said Devin Kowalski, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan.
DeMay’s parents were at today’s hearing — a part of their healing process and mission to ensure a safer future for kids. Nothing they do will bring their son back, but they haven’t stopped working and fighting in the hope that Jordan’s life will save other lives.
“Jordan gives me courage. I have to be his voice. I think about him and what he would want me to do. In the hardest times, he is why I get up and I put one foot in front of the other and I can speak and say the things that need to be said,” Jennifer Buta, DeMay’s mother, said.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi will be in court again on Thursday for their official arraignment, pretrial conference and bond hearing.
Samuel is facing life in prison, while Samson is facing 55 years in prison. The extradition of a third man charged in this investigation is pending.
According to the FBI, cases of sextortion are on the rise and have doubled since the pandemic. Officials say it is important to continue talking to kids and teenagers, having those tough conversations and staying vigilant to prevent sextortion from taking place.
If you or someone you know has experienced sextortion, you are urged to contact law enforcement.
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