Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian national, has been sentenced to 97 months (over 8 years) in prison by a US court for his involvement in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges after admitting to defrauding over 400 elderly victims of more than $6 million.
Akhimie and his accomplices sent personalized letters to victims in the US, posing as Spanish bank officials, claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives abroad.
Victims were instructed to pay fees, taxes, and other costs upfront to claim their supposed inheritance, but none of the funds were ever delivered.
Akhimie and his co-conspirators used a network of US-based intermediaries, some of whom were former fraud victims, to collect and launder the money.
“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 US court statement read.
The investigation was led by the US Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, with critical support from Europol and authorities in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.
Akhimie is the eighth person sentenced in connection with the fraudulent scheme, with another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, receiving a similar 97-month sentence in April.
“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 US Attorney Jason Quiñones.
Acting Inspector in Charge, Bladismir Rojo said they will be committed henceforth to make sure justice is served to American victims defrauded by Fraudsters. In a statement he 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.”
