MARQUETTE, MI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The two Nigerian men arraigned on charges of sexually extorting young men and teenage boys across the United States pleaded not guilty on Thursday.
22-year-old Samuel Ogoshi and 20-year-old Samson Ogoshi, of Lagos, Nigeria, were extradited to the United States on Aug. 13 and faced a U.S. judge for the first time the following day. At their arraignment hearing on Aug. 17, the defendants were formally advised of the charges against them and pleaded not guilty.
“Today’s hearing is another step forward in the judicial process following the successful extradition of the Ogoshi brothers from Nigeria to the United States last Sunday,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is fully prepared to present the facts of the case during a fair trial.”
In November 2022, the Ogoshi brothers were charged in a four-count indictment:
- Count 1: Samuel Ogoshi charged with Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Resulting in Death, in association with the death of Jordan DeMay.
- Count 2: Both men charged with Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Minors by causing the minors to produce child pornographic images that the defendants then used to blackmail the minors.
- Count 3: Both men charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Child Pornography for sending the child pornography images to the minors, as well as their families and friends.
- Count 4: Both men charged with Conspiracy to Commit Stalking Through the Internet for engaging in this sextortion scheme as it relates to both minors and young adults.
This international sextortion ring was brought to light through the investigation into the death of 17-year-old Marquette teen Jordan DeMay, who died by suicide in March 2022 after police say he was sextorted through a fake Instagram account.
