US Court Jails Nigerian For Defrauding Over 400 Victims Of $6m
A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, to more than eight years in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of more than $6 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, in a statement on Monday, said Akhimie, 41, was sentenced on September 11 to 97 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.
According to court documents, Akhimie and his accomplices mailed personalised letters to victims across the U.S., posing as Spanish bank officials. The letters falsely claimed the recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives overseas.
Victims were deceived into paying a series of charges including delivery fees, taxes, and other costs supposedly required to release the inheritance. Instead, the money was channelled through a network of intermediaries, including former fraud victims in the U.S. who were manipulated into acting as couriers for the syndicate.
U.S. prosecutors confirmed that no victim received any inheritance. Rather, the fraudsters enriched themselves while preying on some of society’s most vulnerable.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division underscored the importance of international partnerships in tackling cross-border scams.
“The Justice Department will continue to pursue and prosecute transnational criminals wherever they are located. This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration,” Shumate said, while thanking U.S. agencies and partners in the UK, Spain, and Portugal for their assistance.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, which led the probe, also vowed to intensify efforts against global financial fraud.
“Defrauding the elderly and other vulnerable populations is a betrayal of not just trust but of humanity. Justice will prevail, and those who exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable,” said Ray Rede, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Arizona.
Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in the case. In April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, received the same 97-month sentence from District Judge Roy Altman, who described the offence as “an incredibly serious crime” warranting strong punishment to protect “the most vulnerable members of society.”
Other defendants had previously been jailed in related proceedings before Judge Kathleen Williams.
The Justice Department noted that the investigation benefited from assistance provided by Europol and authorities in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
