Michigan Lawmakers Push for Sextortion Protections After Teen’s Tragic Death

Jordan DeMay was only 6 or 7 weeks away from his 18th birthday when he tragically died by suicide after enduring 6 hours of abuse and sexual exploitation at the hands of three extortionists. Like many teenagers, Jordan met a person who he thought was a girl his age on Instagram. Eventually, the Instagram user asked Jordan to send explicit photos of himself. Innocently believing that he was flirting with a girl his own age, Jordan sent the photos only to be cruelly extorted by three men across the globe.

Soon after the sextortionists sexually groomed Jordan and induced him to send the content, they began to cruelly demand Jordan, a high school senior, send them $1000 or else they would make Jordan’s pictures go viral. These three sextortionists went as far as to search Jordan’s family and friends. And then they created a collage of personal photos while threatening to publish Jordan’s explicit content. Jordan sent $300 and pleaded with the sextortionists to stop. But despite Jordan’s pleas, the sextortionists continued to exploit Jordan. In response to Jordan’s agonizing texts that he was going to kill himself, they heartlessly replied, “Good… Do that fast… Or I’ll make you do it. I swear to God.” After enduring 6 hours of this online abuse, Jordan DeMay died by suicide on March 25, 2022.

The Investigation and Prosecution of Jordan DeMay’s Sextortionists

Like many sextortionist victims who feel the weight of our culture of victim blaming and shaming, Jordan was panicked and took steps to attempt to erase evidence of his victimization by deleting his Instagram account before his death. Law enforcement and prosecutors were able to locate the three men who victimized Jordan after Jordan’s girlfriend, Kyla Palomski, received a message online that contained explicit photos of Jordan. The Maquette County Sheriff’s Department and FBI quickly collaborated to locate the sextortionists who victimized Jordan.

The investigation led law enforcement to Nigeria where they discovered that Samuel Ogoshi, Samson Ogoshi, and Ezekeil Ejemeh Robert had victimized more than 100 other victims. The Ogoshi brothers were extradited to the United States in May of 2023 and pled guilty to conspiring to sexually exploit teenage boys across the United States in April of this year. At least 13 of the Ogoshi’s US-based victims were under the age of 18. Ezekeil Ejemeh Robert continues to fight extradition.

On September 5, 2024, Samuel Ogoshi (age 24) and Samson Ogoshi (age 21) were sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in prison for Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Minors. However, no amount of prison time will ever undo the harm that sextortionists inflict upon their victims and communities. As Jordan’s mom, Jennifer Buta, so eloquently said, “It’s a relief that someone is being held accountable, but there’s no good that’s coming out of this situation for my family or for the individuals responsible family… I miss my son more than I can describe to you, but the mother of those men is probably missing her two sons as well now. She, too, is really just an innocent bystander of sextortion crime.”

Michigan’s Response to Jordan’s Death

Jordan’s story and his family’s continued advocacy to raise awareness of their son’s life and the crime of sextortion undoubtedly prompted Michigan lawmakers to address the growing epidemic of teenagers being victimized by extortionists online. Michigan State Representations John Fitzgerald, Kara Hope and Hill have sponsored three bills, collectively known as “Jordan D’s Law,” in the hopes of holding extortionists accountable and preventing this horrific crime.

• Fitzgerald’s Bill HB 5887 creates criminal penalties for a sextortionist who “intentionally and maliciously threatens to release, exhibit, or distribute sexually explicit visual material of another individual in order to compel or attempt to compel another individual to do any act or refrain from doing any act against the individual’s will with the intent to obtain additional sexually explicit visual material or anything else of value…”
• Hope’s Bill HB 5888 details sentencing guidelines for the crime of sextortion as well as aggregated sextortion.
• Hill’s Bill HB 5889 would require schools to educate their students on Michigan’s sextortion laws.

How Big is the Online Sextortion Threat for Kids and Teens?

Jordan DeMay is not the only victim of sextortion. Sextortion is a crime that happens when someone threatens to share nude or sexual images or videos unless a victim meets the extortionist’s demands. These demands may be for money or additional sexually explicit content.

Sextortion is an increasingly pervasive crime: “From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors.” This number is likely a low estimate of how many teens are targeted and victimized by sextortionists. Additionally, victims are often too ashamed or embarrassed to report this crime. Parents may be concerned that their child’s act of taking and sending a sexually explicit photo may be construed as the creation and distribution of child pornography. In light of the significant harm caused by the crime of sextortion, it is essential that parents, educators and law enforcement are mindful of the ways they discuss sexting and digital safety with children and teens. Always remember that teens and children are victims of sexual exploitation when targeted by sextortionists.

What Can Parents Do to Protect Their Kids From Sextortion?

While it is important to discuss the consequences of sexting, parents must be mindful not to discourage their children from being able to tell them when they have fallen victim to sextortion. As Jennifer Buta said, “It’s important parents know that this can happen. Their child is not an exception. If they are on social media, it can happen so quickly. Parents need to let their kids know they can come to them with anything, and their parents are there to help them and guide them through these situations.”

A child or teen who is coerced to send sexually explicit content and/or who is extorted is a victim and should report it to law enforcement. Law enforcement should NOT punish the victim of these crimes.

Additional Steps/Tips

• Make sure that your social media profiles and your children’s are set to private
• Do not friend anyone who is a stranger, even if they claim to know you or to be a friend of a friend
• Remind your child that they truly do not know a person on the other side of the screen and tell them NOT to friend anyone they have not met in person, know and trust.
• If your child is a victim of sextortion, remind them that they are not alone and encourage them to seek out support networks and counseling resources.
• Report any sextortionist or suspected sextortionist to the app or platform immediately.
• If any content is posted, you can submit removal demands by going to TakeItDown.NCMEC.org or calling us at Minc Law.

Conclusion

The tragic story of Jordan DeMay has brought attention to the need for heightened awareness, legal protections, and support for victims. Michigan lawmakers are stepping up to address these issues with legislation that aims to prevent such devastating crimes in the future.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement all play a critical role in safeguarding young people from sextortion. By staying informed, maintaining open communication, and understanding the digital dangers that teens may face, families can create a safer environment for their children. If you or someone you know has been affected by sextortion, know that you don’t have to face it alone. Minc Law has deep experience in helping victims of online abuse and sextortion navigate legal channels and remove harmful content. We’re here to provide guidance, support, and expert solutions to help restore your peace of mind and protect your reputation. Contact us at Minc Law if you need assistance in combatting sextortion and safeguarding your digital privacy.

If You Are Having Thoughts of Self-Harm

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for confidential support 24/7. You are not alone, and there is hope.