The Ogoshi siblings, Samuel Ogoshi (22) and Samson Ogoshi (20), hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday in response to charges of sexually coercing adolescent boys and young men across the United States, including Michigan. The alleged operation, portrayed as a female persona online, has been linked to the tragic suicide of a 17-year-old high school student, Jordan DeMay, from Marquette, Michigan, in March 2022.
The arraignment took place in the US District Court in Marquette, Michigan, as confirmed by a statement released by US Attorney Mark Totten. A detention hearing for the Ogoshi brothers has been scheduled for the forthcoming Wednesday, according to Totten’s announcement.
The Ogoshi siblings are facing allegations of orchestrating an expansive sextortion network that spanned international boundaries. Operating under false pretenses, they reportedly coerced victims into sharing explicit photographs, subsequently leveraging the threat of public exposure to demand monetary payments or engage in sexual acts.
The charges levied against the Ogoshis encompass counts of conspiring to exploit minors sexually, conspiring to disseminate explicit images involving child sexual abuse, and conspiring to engage in internet-based stalking. Additionally, Samuel Ogoshi faces individual charges of sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, along with attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, leading to fatality.
Formal charges were brought against the siblings in May and they were subsequently extradited to the United States after their indictment. Efforts to reach the Ogoshi brothers’ federal public defender for comment on the accusations remain unanswered through email and phone communication.
No specific information has been provided regarding the extent of potential additional victims, as stated by Totten.
You can also read: New Jersey High Court Backs Catholic School in Premarital Sex Firing
In the event of a crisis, immediate assistance can be accessed by dialing 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For further resources, the network formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255, while texting HOME to 741741 or visiting SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources can also provide support.
