A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, to more than eight years in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme 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 Akhimie, 41, was handed a 97-month prison term on September 11 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.
According to court filings, Akhimie and his accomplices mailed personalised letters to unsuspecting Americans, falsely posing as bank officials in Spain. The letters claimed recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from supposed relatives who had died overseas.
Victims were instructed to pay various “fees”, including delivery charges, taxes, and administrative costs, to access the inheritance. Instead of receiving the promised funds, the victims’ money was funnelled through a complex web of intermediaries.
Many of these middlemen were themselves former fraud victims in the U.S., manipulated into acting as conduits for the syndicate.
“No victim received any inheritance. The fraudsters enriched themselves while exploiting some of the most vulnerable members of society,” prosecutors said.
In his guilty plea, Akhimie admitted to defrauding more than $6 million from over 400 victims, the majority of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
Jason Quiñones, U.S. Attorney, condemned the scheme, calling it 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.
According to Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division emphasised the role of international cooperation in bringing the fraudsters to justice.
“This case is a testament to the critical role of global collaboration in tackling transnational crime.
“The Justice Department will continue to pursue and prosecute criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, wherever they are located”, Shumate added.
Shumate also acknowledged the contributions of the UK’s National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service, alongside Europol and authorities in Spain and Portugal.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which spearheaded the probe, pledged continued vigilance against financial crimes.
Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo said his agency remained committed to protecting American consumers, while HSI’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede described the exploitation of seniors as “a betrayal of humanity.”
Akhimie’s sentencing marks the eighth conviction in the fraud case. In April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, received the same 97-month sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Roy Altman, who labelled the fraud “an incredibly serious crime” targeting “the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Other co-conspirators had earlier been sentenced in related proceedings before Judge Kathleen Williams.
