Sexual assault online: Two men from Nigeria extradited to the United States
They are said to have blackmailed young people with nude photos: Two men from Nigeria are therefore on trial in the USA. With their actions they are said to have even brought a 17-year-old to suicide.
Grand Rapids. Two men from Nigeria have been handed over to the United States after being accused of sexually assaulting and extorting young people online. They were scheduled to appear in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Monday, prosecutor Mark Totten said Sunday. The duo is accused of running an international sextortion ring – sex and extortion.
Victims of such gangs' scams allow themselves to be lured into sending nude photos in the belief that they are chatting with their peers, only to be blackmailed. Perpetrators threaten those affected with the publication of the pictures if they do not pay them a certain sum or engage in sexual acts online.
Blackmailers are said to have driven 17-year-olds to their deaths
In the current case, alleged activities of the defendants' sextortion ring led to a 17-year-old pointing a gun at himself and dying in March 2022, according to the May indictment. The men, aged 22 and 20, have to answer for a conspiracy to sexually exploit minors and to spread child pornography and stalking via the Internet. The older man is also accused of, among other things, sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death.
"Sextortion is a terrible crime," prosecutor Totten said. “To those who commit these crimes: we will pursue you around the world. And to those who are victims, please know that we stand ready to assist you.”
