Huntsville native Dinsimore Guyton Robinson, 29, has entered a guilty plea to the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, a story unfolding from Western Michigan's courtrooms that reads like a true-crime drama. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Andrew Birge, confirmed Robinson's involvement in a scheme that saw funds funneled to Nigerian sextortionists—the same criminals behind the exploitation of boys and young men, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office announcement.
As per the indictment brought against him, Robinson partook in laundering money received as part of the vicious cycle, an enterprise where naive victims, after being pressured into creating compromising images of themselves, were coerced into sending money via electronic payment platforms such as Apple Pay, Cash App, and Zelle. With a hefty 20 percent cut for their 'services,' the launderers would subsequently channel the rest of the cash to Nigeria after converting it into bitcoin, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The shadow of this conspiracy darkens with the tragedy that befell Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old high school student from Marquette, whose death is linked to this nefarious web of sextortion. Robinson was implicated in laundering DeMay's funds in a case that had already seen three Nigerian nationals charged in November 2022 and later two extradited and pleading guilty in April 2024.
Impeding the forward march of criminal endeavors, Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, emphasized the collective perseverance of federal agents: "Robinson's criminal activities were thwarted through the tireless investigative efforts of the FBI in Michigan, Atlanta, and Birmingham, in partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan," as stated in a U.S. Attorney's Office press release. He also pinpointed that Robertson’s actions emphasize the lengths to which criminals will prey on those least able to defend themselves, a sobering commentary on the case’s deepest horrors.
In response to the rise in sextortion crimes, the FBI has issued a series of safety tips and resources. They advise the public to exercise caution in their online activities, including being selective about the personal information shared on social platforms, skeptical of new online acquaintances, and cautious about transferring communications across different applications. Furthermore, they highlight that anything created online can become public, urging individuals to seek help and report suspicious behaviors. Victims of sextortion or those with information on such crimes are encouraged to contact their local FBI field office or submit tips through the bureau's website.
The battle against sextortion has been heightened through the collaborative efforts of the FBI and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria. With Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru represented the case at the hearing, exposing part of the scheme. While indictments are accusations until proven in court.
