Five defendants have been charged in the Western District of Michigan with conspiracy to commit money laundering, facilitating a sextortion scheme that led to the tragic death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan.
“Every day, Americans fall victim to financial scams, including sextortion, romance scams, and consumer fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Senior citizens, children, and teenagers are especially vulnerable. The result of these crimes can be devastating, as the death of Jordan DeMay makes painfully clear. Today’s charges send a loud and clear message that we will chase down everyone who enables these crimes, including the U.S.-based money launderers.”
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In November 2022, three Nigerian nationals were charged in connection with the sextortion scheme targeting over 100 victims, including DeMay. Two defendants were extradited to the U.S. in August 2023 and pled guilty in April 2024.
The newly announced indictment names the following five U.S.-based defendants, charged with Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering:
- Johnathan Demetrius Green, 32, Stone Mountain, Georgia
- Jarell Daivon Williams, 31, McDonough, Georgia
- Dinsimore Guyton Robinson, 30, Huntsville, Alabama
- Kendall Ormond London, Jr., 32, Lithonia, Georgia
- Brian Keith Coldmon, Jr., 30, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Money laundering, a federal crime, involves financial transactions intended to conceal the proceeds of criminal activity. The government alleges that the defendants conspired to conduct financial transactions to hide the origins of the proceeds from the sextortion scheme. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years.
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Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, the Nigerian sextortionists, admitted in their plea agreements to posing as a young woman on social media to entice teenage boys and young men into producing sexually explicit images. The sextortionists then blackmailed their victims for money, threatening to distribute the images to family and friends. Victims were instructed to send money through various cash applications to designated accounts controlled by the U.S.-based defendants.
The indictment alleges that the defendants kept a portion of the victims’ funds and converted the rest into bitcoin, sending it to a Nigerian co-conspirator known as “The Plug.” This individual would retain a portion and send the remainder to the sextortionists, including Samuel and Samson Ogoshi. The defendants are accused of laundering at least $178,658.
One of these transactions involved Jordan DeMay, referred to as “Victim 1” in the indictment. On March 25, 2022, DeMay sent $300 to Johnathan Green, who then converted a portion into bitcoin for The Plug.
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The defendants were arrested on August 1, 2024, and made their initial court appearances. Their arraignments are expected in Grand Rapids before Judge Jonker in the coming weeks.
“The five defendants who allegedly conspired to aid Nigerian sextortionists through money laundering participated in the financial manipulation of vulnerable and young victims,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI continues to spread awareness about financial sextortion and will continue to work with our partners at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
In the related case, Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi are scheduled for sentencing on September 5, 2024, in Marquette, Michigan. The public can access the sentencing details, including live audio via Zoom or a video at the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids.
The FBI is investigating the case, and AUSA Davin Reust is prosecuting it.
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