Nigerian Jailed in U.S. Over $6 Million Inheritance Fraud

A U.S. court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, to over eight years in prison for his role in a major inheritance fraud scheme. The scam tricked more than 400 elderly victims out of over $6 million.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said on Monday that Akhimie, 41, was sentenced on September 11 to 97 months (just over 8 years) in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.

According to court documents, Akhimie and his team sent fake letters to people in the U.S., pretending to be bank officials from Spain. The letters falsely claimed that the victims were due to receive large inheritances from dead relatives overseas.

Before the victims could “receive” their fake inheritance, they were told to pay several fees—such as taxes, delivery charges, and other costs to avoid “government problems.” These payments were then funneled through a network of people, including former fraud victims in the U.S. who were tricked into helping move the money.

No one ever received any inheritance. Instead, the fraudsters kept the money for themselves, targeting elderly and vulnerable people.

In his guilty plea, Akhimie admitted to helping steal over $6 million from more than 400 people.

U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones said, “Scams like this don’t just steal money—they also steal the dignity of our seniors. We will continue to fight for victims and bring scammers to justice.”

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate praised international cooperation in solving the case. He thanked law enforcement agencies in the U.S., U.K., Spain, and Portugal, saying, “This case shows how important global teamwork is in fighting international fraud.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Officials say they remain committed to protecting American consumers from international fraud.

Bladismir Rojo, Acting Inspector in Charge, said, “We will keep working with the Department of Justice to make sure scammers are punished.”

Ray Rede of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) added, “Stealing from the elderly is not just a crime—it’s a betrayal of basic human values. We will hold these people accountable.”

Akhimie is the eighth person sentenced in this case. In April, another Nigerian man, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, received the same 97-month prison sentence. Judge Roy Altman called the crime “very serious” and said strong punishment was necessary to protect vulnerable people.

Several other suspects have also been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the case was supported by Europol and law enforcement agencies in the U.K., Spain, and Portugal.

This case has once again highlighted the ongoing issue of cross-border fraud involving Nigerian nationals. In recent years, U.S. authorities have prosecuted several Nigerians for various scams, including internet and romance fraud.

Source: Punch