Connect with us

Michigan

Two suspects in sextortion ring that allegedly drove Michigan teen to suicide extradited from Nigeria

Published

on

Two suspects in sextortion ring that allegedly drove Michigan teen to suicide extradited from Nigeria


Two suspects tied to an international sextortion ring that allegedly drove a Michigan high-schooler to suicide have been extradited to the US from Nigeria, officials announced Sunday — along with startling dismal statistics about similar crimes.

Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, arrived at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Mich., at 11:15 a.m. local time Sunday, US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced at a press conference.

A third defendant, Ezekiel Ejehem Robert,19, is still in the process of being extradited, but officials are “optimistic” that he will also be brought to the US, Totten added.

Totten’s office announced a federal indictment May 3 that charged all three men with conspiracy to sexually exploit minors, conspiracy to distribute child pornography and conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet in relation to a sextortion plot that targeted more than 100 young men and teen boys in the United States.

Advertisement
US Attorney Mark Totten announced the suspects’ extradition Sunday.

Jordan DeMay.
Jordan DeMay, 17, took his own life last year after he was allegedly targeted in an international sextortion scheme.
Courtesy DeMay family

One of their alleged victims, 17-year-old Jordan DeMay, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound March 25, 2022, after an Instagram account purportedly run by the three Nigerian men threatened to release explicit photos of the teen if he did not pay $1,000.

For DeMay’s death, Samuel Ogoshi is additionally charged with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Federal authorities, in announcing the extraditions Sunday, warned that such sextortion crimes have soared since COVID-19.

“The number of sextortion cases involving children and teens being threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online has more than doubled since the pandemic,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan Devin Kowalski.


Jordan DeMay pictured with his parents.
“My son was smart,” said devastated dad John DeMay, here with his tragic boy Jordan and the teen’s mom.
Courtesy DeMay family

Kowalski urged young people and adults to exercise caution online and “reduce stigma” so that more predators can be brought to light.

“If you believe [you] or your loved one has been financially sextorted, first remember the predator is to blame, not your child or you,” he said.

Kowalski also told young people that there “is life after sending pictures” and urged those who may have compromising pictures of themselves on the internet to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s “Take It Down” program.

Advertisement

A message for Jordan DeMay outside his high school.
Investigators believe that a Nigerian trio of sextortionists targeted more than 100 young men and teen boys in the US.
Courtesy DeMay family

Both Kowalski and Totten repeatedly thanked DeMay’s family for supporting the investigation.

“My son was smart. He was a good student. He was a great athlete,” DeMay’s father, John DeMay, told Fox News Digital in June.

“Someone came to his bedroom at 3 in the morning and murdered him through Instagram when we were all sleeping at night, and we had zero chance to stop it.”

DeMay of Marquette is believed to have taken his own life after he was contacted by an Instagram account with the username “@dani.robertts.”

Though the account appeared to be run by a woman, prosecutors allege that it was actually one of the several hacked profiles the sextorting trio used to entice and manipulate DeMay and others.

“I can send this [sic] nudes to everyone and also send your nudes Until it goes viral,” Samuel Ogoshi allegedly messaged DeMay after the teen sent an explicit photo of himself.

Advertisement

Jordan DeMay.
Jordan DeMay, 17, was the victim of a sextortion plot that his family says led him to kill himself.
Courtesy DeMay family

“Just pay me rn [right now]. And I won’t expose you,” the suspect reportedly said.

Ogoshi demanded $1,000, but the high school football player sent only $300, which prompted the defendant to allegedly threaten to forward the image to DeMay’s family and friends.

Hours later, DeMay told him he was going to commit suicide.

“Good. Do that fast. Or I’ll make you do it. I swear to God,” Ogoshi reportedly answered.

Totten, addressing the investigators and officials who helped secure Samuel and Samson Oshogi’s extradition, said Sunday, “Thank you for bringing Jordan’s family one step closer to justice.”

Samuel and Samson Oshogi were expected to appear in federal court in Grand Rapids on Monday.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Michigan

Michigan 89-58 Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN

Published

on

Michigan 89-58 Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN


DETROIT — — Tre Donaldson had 16 points and six rebounds to lead No. 24 Michigan to a lopsided 89-58 victory over Purdue-Fort Wayne at the Crisler Center on Sunday.

Michigan (9-3) needed less than 15 minutes to take a 20-point lead and led by 30 in the first minute of the second half. Vladislav Goldin added 13 points for the Wolverines, who had five players in double figures. Danny Wolf had four points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

Jalen Jackson led all scorers with 27 points for the Mastodons (9-5), but Purdue-Fort Wayne didn’t have another scorer with more than six points.

Takeaways

Advertisement

Mastodons: Forward Eric Mulder, who came into the game shooting 83.7% (46-55) on 2-pointers, made his only shot before leaving the game late in the first half with an ankle injury.

Wolverines: Michigan had gone 1-2 in its past three games with all three decided by two or fewer points. After beating Iowa 85-83 on Dec. 7, they lost 89-87 to Arkansas and 87-86 to No. 14 Oklahoma.

Key Moment

Michigan didn’t waste any time taking control of the game, taking a 23-4 lead in the first eight minutes. Eight Wolverines scored as they hit nine of their first 11 shots while holding the Mastodons to 2-12 (16.7%).

Michigan coach Dusty May rotated his lineup throughout runs of 7-0 and 13-0, using 10 players in the stretch.

Advertisement

Key Stat

Michigan shot 75% (9-12) on 3-pointers in the first half while Purdue-Fort Wayne went 2-17 (11.8%). Sam Walters missed two of his four attempts while his teammates made 7 of 8.

Quinton Morton-Richardson (1-7) and Rasheed Bello (0-3) combined to shoot 10% from the 3-point line and 1-13 (7.7%) overall in the half.

Up Next

Both teams return to action on Dec. 29. The Mastodons have a Horizon League game at Green Bay while Michigan hosts Western Kentucky.

Advertisement

——

Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball



Source link

Continue Reading

Michigan

WATCH: Michigan State’s Coen Carr Speaks After Career Game

Published

on

WATCH: Michigan State’s Coen Carr Speaks After Career Game


EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State sophomore forward Coen Carr put on quite the show in the Spartans’ 86-69 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

Carr posted a career-high 17 points and also recorded eight rebounds. He had several dunks in the win and also made his first-career 3-pointer. He added a block and a steal as well.

Carr addressed the media after the game.

You can watch some of his media availability below:

Advertisement

Below is a partial transcript from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s opening statement of his postgame press conference:

Izzo: “Man, nothing’s easy. I really like that team. We said it on film. We actually did a pretty good job on a couple guys. [Baba] Miller, one. The big kid inside got in some foul trouble, did a decent job with him. I thought Jeremy [Fears Jr. ] did a hell of a job on [Leland] Walker. I really like Walker, too. But Miller is a good player. We did not do a good job on [Tre] Carroll. He was really good. And I think he is really good. I think that team has a chance to win a lot of games. This will probably be a good test for us. It wasn’t good when you’re going home for Christmas, because there was a couple sleepless nights on these guys. I told some of you I thought they were good. And yet, we started out the second half 4-of-17. Missed a gazillion layups — putbacks for Szymon [Zapala] and Jax [Jaxon Kohler], of all people. And they really — 4-of-17, I don’t know how we. I’m trying to figure out how we scored 86 points. But again, we shot pretty well from the free throw line. We offensive rebounded, we didn’t turn it over too much. I mean, it was a good win for us; I didn’t like the way it was played at all the time. I thought we got stagnant with the ball. But I was really impressed with Jeremy. And Coen [Carr] will probably never shoot another 3, so he can leave the history of Michigan State — it will be 100%. … I appreciate our fans appreciating him. And you saw our players. Last time I saw an eruption like that was when Steven [Izzo] hit a shot. That was pretty cool. I think that tells you a lot about how they feel about each other. And that was really important to me and, I think, to our coaching staff. So, Coen, no doubt, was the star of the game. Jaden came around the second half and did some good things.”

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Michigan

Michigan State Sophomore Turns in Career Game Against FAU

Published

on

Michigan State Sophomore Turns in Career Game Against FAU


Sophomore guard Coen Carr delivered a breakout performance for Michigan State basketball in its 86-69 victory over Florida Atlantic, scoring a career-high 17 points while pulling down eight rebounds. It was a game that showcased Carr’s developing offensive game and his continued growth as a versatile and impactful player for the Spartans.

Carr’s 17-point effort was the result of a well-rounded offensive game that included a variety of scoring methods. While Carr has long been known for his athleticism and ability to contribute on the defensive end, this game highlighted his increasing ability to make an impact on offense. Perhaps the most notable moment came when he hit his first career 3-pointer, a smooth shot from beyond the arc that not only earned him a standing ovation but also signaled his expanding skill set.

Up until that point, Carr had been more known for his athletic ability and transition play, but this 3-pointer showed that he is working to develop a more complete game, which will be crucial for Michigan State’s offensive versatility going forward.

In addition to his scoring, Carr’s 8 rebounds were crucial in helping Michigan State dominate the glass. His length, athleticism, and motor allowed him to clean up missed shots and secure key offensive and defensive boards. His presence on the boards allowed the Spartans to control the pace of the game, pushing the tempo and limiting FAU’s second-chance opportunities. Carr’s ability to contribute in multiple areas — particularly on the boards — shows his increasing comfort with his role on the team and his willingness to contribute wherever needed.

Advertisement

Carr’s all-around performance demonstrated his potential to become a more significant part of Michigan State’s rotation as the season progresses. His confidence on offense, particularly with the three-point shot, gives the Spartans another weapon to rely on. Meanwhile, his ability to impact the game with his rebounding and defensive play remains one of his strongest assets.

For Michigan State, Carr’s career-high outing is a promising sign of what’s to come. With his athleticism and improving offensive game, Carr has the potential to grow into a key contributor for the Spartans, providing them with much-needed depth and versatility as they look to make a run in the NCAA tournament. This performance against FAU is just the beginning for Coen Carr, and it suggests that he could play a pivotal role in Michigan State’s success this season.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending