A United States court has sentenced Nigerian national Ehis Lawrence Akhimie to more than eight years in prison for his involvement in a transnational inheritance fraud that swindled over 400 elderly victims out of more than $6 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced on Monday that the 41-year-old Akhimie received a 97-month prison term on September 11 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.
Court documents reveal that Akhimie and his accomplices sent personalised letters to U.S. residents, claiming to be bank officials in Spain.
The letters falsely asserted that the recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives abroad.
Victims were told they needed to pay fees, including taxes and delivery charges, to access the inheritance and avoid “government scrutiny.”
However, the money was diverted through a network of intermediaries, including former fraud victims in the U.S., who were manipulated into forwarding the funds to the syndicate.
No victims received any inheritance. Instead, the fraudsters enriched themselves at the expense of some of the most vulnerable.
“Akhimie and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Akhimie admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones condemned the scheme as a betrayal of trust. “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,” he said.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate highlighted the importance of international cooperation in fighting cross-border crime.
“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,” Shumate added.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations also played key roles in the investigation. Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo said, “We are committed to protecting American consumers from being defrauded by transnational criminal organisations. We will continue to work with the Department of Justice to deliver justice.”
Similarly, Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede of HSI Arizona stated, “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.”
Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in the sprawling case. In April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, received the same 97-month prison term from District Court Judge Roy Altman.
At the time, Judge Altman described the crime as “an incredibly serious crime” that required severe punishment to protect “the most vulnerable, the least protected members of our society.”
Other defendants in the case had previously received jail sentences under U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
The Department of Justice acknowledged the assistance of Europol, as well as authorities in the UK, Spain, and Portugal, through its Office of International Affairs, in bringing the case to justice.
The case underscores Nigeria’s ongoing association with cross-border fraud, as U.S. authorities have prosecuted several Nigerians in recent years for internet and romance scams, among other high-profile schemes.
