A Nigerian citizen, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, has pleaded guilty to his role in a sprawling transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded more than 400 elderly and vulnerable individuals across the United States out of over $6 million.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the development in a statement released following Akhimie’s guilty plea on June 17.
According to court documents, 41-year-old Akhimie was part of a criminal network that, over the course of several years, sent personalised letters to elderly Americans, falsely claiming the recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from long-lost relatives who had allegedly died abroad.
The fraudulent letters were made to appear as though they came from a bank in Spain, with instructions that the recipients had to first pay taxes, delivery charges, and other fees to access the inheritance funds.
The victims, believing the letters to be genuine, sent money as instructed, but never received any inheritance.
Akhimie and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds through a sophisticated system involving former victims in the U.S., who were deceived into acting as intermediaries, receiving funds and forwarding them to the fraudsters or their associates.
Akhimie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
His plea is the latest development in an international investigation that has already resulted in the conviction and sentencing of seven other individuals involved in the same scheme.
Among those sentenced are Ezennia Peter Neboh, who was extradited from Spain and received 128 months’ imprisonment, and Kennedy Ikponmwosa, also extradited from Spain, who was sentenced to 97 months.
Three conspirators extradited from the United Kingdom—Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham—received sentences of 82, 87, and 90 months respectively.
Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, who was paroled into the U.S. from Nigeria, was sentenced to 90 months, while Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, received a 97-month prison term.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division praised the outcome of the case, saying, “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located.
“This case is testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank the members of the Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as 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, added, “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 of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona, also commented, “Transnational fraud schemes thrive in the shadows, turning illicit gains into a façade of legitimacy, especially those involving seniors or other vulnerable people. 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.”
The investigation was carried out by USPIS, HSI, and the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch. Prosecutors Phil Toomajian and Josh Rothman led the case for the Justice Department.
