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- A Nigerian national has been sentenced to 97 months in prison for orchestrating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly victims in the United States
- The elaborate scam involved fake letters promising multimillion-dollar inheritances and extracted more than $6 million through deceptive fees and intermediaries
- US and international authorities collaborated to bring the perpetrators to justice, marking a major victory against cross-border financial crime
A Nigerian man has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for his involvement in a sophisticated transnational inheritance fraud scheme that targeted hundreds of elderly victims across the United States.
On 11 September, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, received a 97-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to defrauding more than 400 individuals of over $6 million.
According to court documents, Akhimie was part of a network of fraudsters who orchestrated a years-long scam by sending personalised letters to elderly Americans. These letters falsely claimed the recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives abroad.
Source: Getty Images
The fraudulent correspondence purported to originate from a Spanish bank and instructed victims to pay various fees—including delivery charges, taxes, and other costs—to secure their inheritance and avoid scrutiny from government authorities.
Victims were misled into transferring funds through a complex network of intermediaries, many of whom were themselves former victims manipulated into facilitating the scheme.
Despite sending substantial sums, none of the victims received the promised inheritance. Akhimie admitted to his role in the conspiracy and acknowledged the scale of the deception, which disproportionately affected vulnerable and elderly individuals.
US officials condemn exploitation of vulnerable victims
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida condemned the scheme, stating:
“Schemes like this steal not only money but dignity from our seniors. Our Office stands with victims, ensures their voices are heard, and will relentlessly pursue those who prey on them.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division emphasised the importance of global cooperation in tackling such crimes:
“The Justice Department will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom, for their outstanding contributions to this case.”
Bladismir Rojo, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division, reiterated the agency’s commitment to protecting consumers:
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting American consumers from being defrauded by Transnational Criminal Organizations. We have long partnered with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to deliver justice and we will continue to do so.”
Ray Rede, acting special agent in charge for HSI Arizona, added:
“Defrauding the elderly and other vulnerable populations is a betrayal of not just trust but of humanity. HSI and our law enforcement partners commitment to investigate criminals who steal money sends a clear message: justice will prevail, and those who exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable. We thank all our partners who assisted in this investigation.”
International collaboration leads to multiple convictions
Akhimie is the eighth individual sentenced in connection with the inheritance fraud scheme. Earlier this year, District Court Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata—extradited from Portugal—to 97 months in prison. Judge Altman described the offence as “an incredibly serious crime” and stressed the importance of protecting “the most vulnerable, the least protected members of our society who have done absolutely nothing wrong.”
The investigation was led by USPIS and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with critical support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal.
Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Josh Rothman of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.
This sentencing marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to dismantle transnational criminal organisations that exploit vulnerable populations through elaborate financial fraud schemes.
Nigerian man faces deportation from US
Legit.ng earlier reported that a Nigerian national previously convicted of sexual offenses against a Maryland minor has been arrested in Lanham by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore.
The 37-year-old was taken into custody on August 2 by deportation officers from ERO’s Criminal Apprehension Program outside his residence.
Source: Legit.ng
