A 25-year-old Nigerian national, Samuel Abiodun, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a United States District Court for his role in a sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of a teenage victim.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, David Metcalf, the sentencing was handed down on Tuesday by US District Judge Joel Slomsky.
Abiodun was arrested in Nigeria in July 2024 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
He was extradited to the United States alongside co-conspirator Aina Afeez.
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Both men were charged in August 2024 following their extradition.
While Abiodun pleaded guilty in December to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Afeez entered a guilty plea to multiple charges in May 2025.
The charges against Afeez include cyberstalking, interstate threats to injure reputation, receipt of extortion proceeds, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and wire fraud.
He is due to be sentenced on 11 August 2025 and faces a potential lifetime imprisonment.
A third accused in the case, Afeez Adewale, remains in Nigeria and is yet to be extradited.
Authorities confirmed that he has been charged in absentia with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Providing details of the case, Metcalf said Abiodun acted as the financial intermediary in the sextortion scheme, playing a central role in transferring funds obtained through extortion.
“As the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatised the victim and then devastated his family,” Metcalf said.
He continued, “These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout.”
The sextortion scheme involved targeting the teenage victim through deceptive online interactions, threatening to expose sensitive content unless money was paid.
The psychological impact of the threats contributed to the teen’s eventual death.
Metcalf emphasised the seriousness of the crime, stating, “In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm.”
He added a warning to others engaged in similar activities, saying, “We also want to send a message to others like them that the Department of Justice’s reach is long, and if they keep extorting innocent Americans, they could find themselves in an American prison.”
The US Attorney also acknowledged the cooperation of Nigerian authorities in facilitating the extradition and prosecution of the suspects.
“The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” he stated.
The case marks a significant international effort to tackle cybercrime and online exploitation, with both US and Nigerian agencies collaborating in the investigation and prosecution.
