5 men reach plea deals in Nigerian sextortion plot with Alabama link tied to teen suicide
Five U.S. residents have reached plea agreements in connection with a Nigerian-based sextortion scheme that led to a Michigan teen’s death by suicide.
Kendall Ormond London, Jr., 32, Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 26, in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, to conspiracy to launder money tied to the scheme.
In January, Dinsimore Guyton Robinson, 30, of Huntsville, also pleaded guilty as charged to conspiracy.
Related: Alabama man pleads guilty in Nigeria-based sextortion case tied to teen’s suicide
Three other U.S. residents are set to enter guilty pleas in coming days, court records show.
Federal prosecutors say sextortionists in Nigeria bought multiple hacked social media accounts to exploit young male victims from February 2021 through May 2022.
An Instagram profile pretending to be a woman named Dani Roberts would convince boys and young men to provide nude images of themselves then blackmail them for money.
Related: ‘We will track you down:’ Prosecutor blames Nigerian sextortion plot for Michigan teen’s death
London, Robinson and the three other U.S. defendants collected proceeds through online payment systems, kept about 20 percent for themselves, then converted the rest to bitcoin and sent it to Nigeria, prosecutors said.
Brothers Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, both of Lagos, Nigeria, are serving 17 ½-year prison sentences. The U.S. is seeking extradition of another Nigerian defendant.
Jordan DeMay, a high school student in Marquette, died by suicide after he was sexually exploited by the brothers, federal prosecutors said.
Related: 5 men in U.S. allegedly tied to Nigerian sextortion that led to Michigan teen’s death by suicide
On March 25, 2022, Samuel Ogoshi, who had posed as a woman, threatened to share the teen’s photo if he did not pay $1,000. Demay said he had only $300, which he had sent through an online cash application.
Ogoshi wrote: “Enjoy your miserable life.”
Demay responded that he was going to kill himself because of the threat.
Ogoshi responded, “Good” and “do that fast,” court records said.
Demay died by suicide later that day.
Related: Victim’s mom gives emotional statement at deadly sextortion plot sentencing
Prosecutors say over 100 victims paid $179,000 in the sextortion plot. Typically, schemers posed as young women on social media and convinced teens and young men to send sexually explicit photographs.
They then threatened to share images with victims’ family, friends and classmates if they did not pay the ransom.
The U.S. defendants face up to 20 years in prison.
Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced April 24, while London is to be sentenced on July 21.
Johnathan Demetrius Green, 33, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Jarell Daivon Williams, 32, of McDonough, Georgia, and Brian Keith Coldmon, Jr., 31, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, have reached plea agreements.
Green is scheduled to plea on Friday, March 28, while the other two have court appearances early next week.
The FBI has noted a “huge increase” in sextortion cases targeting young victims. The FBI said those being exploited should contact their local FBI field office, call 800-CALL-FBI or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.