Friday, July 4, 2025 - A Nigerian national, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, has pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly and vulnerable consumers across the United States.
Office of Public Affairs - US Department of Justice
announced this in a statement on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Akhimie was extradited from
the United Kingdom to the United States in March.
According to court documents, Akhimie, 41, was a member of a
group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the
United States over the course of several years.
The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a
representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to
receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family
member who had died overseas years before.
Akhimie and his co-conspirators allegedly told a series of
lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported
inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and
other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities.
Akhimie and his co-conspirators allegedly 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 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,” said
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s
Civil Division. “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.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to
protecting American consumers from being defrauded by Transnational Criminal
Organizations,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo for the
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “We have long
partnered with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to
deliver justice and we will continue to do so.”
“Transnational fraud schemes thrive in the shadows, turning
illicit gains into a facade of legitimacy, especially those involving seniors
or other vulnerable people,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede for
HSI Arizona. “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.”
On June 17, Akhimie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit
mail and wire fraud. Akhimie faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
This is the second indicted case related to this
international fraud scheme. Seven other co-conspirators from the United
Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have previously been convicted and sentenced in
connection with this scheme.
On Nov. 1, 2023, the Honorable Kathleen M. Williams
sentenced Ezennia Peter Neboh, who was extradited from Spain, to 128 months of
imprisonment.
On Oct. 20, 2023, Judge Williams sentenced another defendant
who was also extradited from Spain, Kennedy Ikponmwosa, to 97 months of
imprisonment.
Three other defendants who were extradited from the United
Kingdom also received prison sentences. Judge Williams sentenced Emmanuel
Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham to prison
sentences of 82 months, 87 months, and 90 months, respectively, for their roles
in the scheme.
Amos Prince Okey Ezemma was paroled into the United States
from Nigeria and was sentenced in July 2024 to 90 months imprisonment for his
role in the scheme. Lastly, on April 25, the Honorable Roy K. Altman
sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, to 97
months of incarceration for his role in the scheme.
USPIS, HSI, and the Consumer Protection Branch are
investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal
Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Josh Rothman of the
Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs,
the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Department
of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and
Portugal all provided critical assistance.
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