DeMay took his life after becoming the victim of an online sextortion scheme.

Samson Ogoshi was charged with one count of conspiracy to sexually exploit minors, one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography and one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet.

Samuel Ogoshi faced the same charges as his brother with additional charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death.

Both brothers pleaded guilty only to the second count: conspiracy to sexually exploit minors. Additionally, both offered in-person apologies and messages of remorse to DeMay’s loved ones, their own family and their community.

Loved ones of Jordan DeMay stand outside Marquette’s U.S. Post Office and Courthouse where Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, were sentenced for their roles in Jordan DeMay’s death. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)

Their sentences were decided by Judge Robert J. Jonker after hearing arguments for and against the presented plea agreement, victim impact statements and statements from the defendants.

In addition to 17.5 years in federal prison, both brothers will undergo five years of supervision, mandatory registration on the sex offender registry and restitution to the victim’s family to be determined in the next 30 days.

The minimum prison sentence each could have received was 15 years with a maximum 30 years. The Ogoshi brothers’ sentences were reduced due to their continuous cooperation with authorities and their voluntary efforts to expose others involved in sextortion conspiracies in Nigeria.

Jonker said there were allegedly over 100 other victims of the same scheme by the Ogoshi brothers, some occurring after they knew of DeMay’s death. Thirty-eight others have been positively identified, with 13 of those being minors.

“Though I would have preferred the maximum sentence, I’m really proud of the fact that we’re even here today and brought these people to justice,” said Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt. “Years ago, when we got a complaint of scams and that type of thing, once it’s overseas, it’s pretty much dead.”

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said this day was significant for cases with overseas defendants.

“It sends a message to every criminal or would-be criminal around the world that wherever they are, we will chase them down and we will find them to hold them accountable,” he said.

After the sentencing ended, DeMay’s mother Jennifer Buta said, ” … Jordan’s story, it is making a difference and he will never be forgotten and every day I know his legacy is saving another life.”

John DeMay, father of Jordan, thanked the community and law enforcement for their support in the case.

“Today is for Jordan and our community,” he said. “And we’re going to keep pressing forward and help kids and parents and families and schools and law enforcement understand this impact and understand this crime and the impact is has on people.”

The case is not completely over yet, though. There is one additional defendant in this case, Ezekiel E. Robert, also from Nigeria, who has not been extradited yet.

Robert was charged with one count of conspiracy to sexually exploit minors, one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography and one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet.

With eyes set on the future of prosecuting online predators to the fullest extent in the United States judicial system, Zyburt emphasized that work needs to be done to educate youth not only on internet safety but their options.

“Once you put pictures out there, they’re out there forever. There are consequences — and their embarrassment — but it’s not the end of the world and you can come to someone you trust, be it your parents or a teacher or a police officer and tell them what happened and we can get things rolling,” he said. “Last week I got a teenager who texts me, she had pictures out there on the internet and was depressed and despondent and wanted to know what to do. The federal government has a program called Take It Down, and within two hours, she got those pictures off the internet.”

The Take It Down project can be found at takeitdown.ncmec.org.

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 506. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.