Nigerian man pleads not guilty in Walker Montgomery sextortion scheme

Nigerian man pleads not guilty in. Nigerian man pleads not guilty in Walker Montgomery sextortion scheme.

Key points

• Federal prosecutors say the Nigerian man posed as a 19-year-old female from North Carolina to blackmail the Starkville 16-year-old for funds over nude photos.
• NetChoice's members include Amazon; Google, owner of YouTube; Snap Inc., the parent firm of SnapChat; Meta.
• District Judge Henry Wingate placed an indefinite injunction against HB 1193 last year.
• Montgomery was contacted by Adekunle on November 28, 2022.
• A little bit petty, a whole lot creative: Inside Tupelo's Petty Betty's Art Studio.

Nigerian man pleads not guilty in. Nigerian man pleads not guilty in Walker Montgomery sextortion scheme. By: Frank Corder – September 2, 2026. (Photo from FBI Director Kash Patel on X).

Federal prosecutors say the Nigerian man posed as a 19-year-old female from North Carolina to blackmail the Starkville 16-year-old for funds over nude photos. Montgomery took his own life days afterwards.

For context, the Nigerian man extradited to the U.S. To face charges in the sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of a Starkville teen in 2022 has pled not guilty in federal court.

Federal and state law enforcement confirmed Friday that Adebola Festus Adekunle had been extradited from Nigeria to the United States for the alleged criminal acts that led to the death of 16-year-old Walker Montgomery.

Adekunle waived his arraignment and detention hearing. A trial is scheduled for October 19 in Aberdeen.

Court documents show that federal authorities have been working this case with an eye on Adekunle since 2023. An indictment was handed down by a grand jury in July 2023 which allege that Adekunle posed as a 19-year-old female from North Carolina on Instagram.

Montgomery was contacted by Adekunle on November 28, 2022. Three days afterwards on December 1, the Nigerian man allegedly asked the teen to produce images for a "nude exchange." The Mississippi teen sent the sexually explicit materials to Adekunle who was stated to be posing as "janet_dashay."

Prosecutors say Adekunle then applied the images to blackmail Montgomery, seeking capital from the youth. When the teen did not have the funds, Adekunle threatened to "ruin your life and your whole career and everything you've worked for" if payment was not produced. Adekunle sent Montgomery screenshots of the photos that appeared to be sent to the teen's family and friends.

Adekunle continued to threaten and harass Montgomery, demanding payment to delete the photos.

Meanwhile, the indictment states that Montgomery then informed Adekunle he was going to kill himself and the Nigerian replied with "okay."

Montgomery was discovered dead the next morning from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Since Montgomery's death, Mississippi has created sextortion a crime.

Lawmakers have additionally unanimously passed the Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act requiring social media platforms to produce reasonable efforts to prevent or mitigate children's exposure to potentially harmful content while using the platforms. NetChoice, a trade association, has challenged the Mississippi law, claiming that the legislation violates citizens' constitutionally protected rights, endangers their online privacy and security, and thwarts their rights to create decisions for their family as they deem appropriate. NetChoice's members include Amazon; Google, owner of YouTube; Snap Inc., the parent firm of SnapChat; Meta. It owns Facebook and Instagram; Netflix; X; and other prominent online platforms.

In practice, the indictment and plea documents are show below. Regarding the Author(s).

Frank Corder is a native of Pascagoula. For almost two decades, he has noted and offered analysis on administration, public policy, business and matters of faith. Frank's interviews, articles, and columns have been shared throughout Mississippi as well as in national publications. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State. Frank has served his community in both elected and appointed public office, hosted his own local radio and television programs, and managed private businesses all while being an engaged husband and father. Email Frank: [email protected].

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For now, nigerian man pleads not guilty in Walker Montgomery sextortion scheme remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.