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WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Two Nigerians plead not guilty on sex-exploitation charges

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The federal prosecutor in Grand Rapids says two men from Nigeria have been formally charged with sexually extorting numerous young men and teenage boys in West Michigan.

Mark Totten is the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. He says the suspects are Samuel Ogoshi, who is 22, and 20-year-old Samson Ogoshi. Totten says Samuel Ogoshi was also arraigned on a charge alleging that this sexual exploitation resulted in the suicide of a 17-year-old Marquette boy.

Prosecutors say Samuel Ogoshi was also arraigned on an allegation that sexual exploitation resulted in the suicide of a 17-year-old Marquette boy. The Ogoshi's pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.

More details were included in a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office:

“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 on last Sunday,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is fully prepared to present the facts of the case during a fair trial.”

On August 13, 2023, the Ogoshis were extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution after being indicted in November 2022 for sexual extortion.

In November 2022, Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi were charged in a four-count indictment: Count 1 charges Samuel Ogoshi with Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Resulting in Death in association with the death of Jordan DeMay. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a statutory mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison. Count 2 charges both men with Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Minors by causing the minors to produce child pornographic images that the defendants then used to blackmail the minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Count 3 charges both men with Conspiracy to Distribute Child Pornography for sending the child pornography images to the minors, as well as their families and friends. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison. Count 4 charges both men with Conspiracy to Commit Stalking Through the Internet for engaging in this sextortion scheme as it relates to both minors and young adults. The charge has a maximum penalty of five years in prison. All charges have provisions for fines, restitution, and supervised release after their release from prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Mekaru and Davin Reust, and investigated by the FBI, the Marquette Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan State Police Cybercrimes Unit in Marquette with the cooperation and assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State provided critical assistance in seeking the extradition of the defendants.

The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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