A United States court has sentenced Nigerian national Ehis Lawrence Akhimie to more than eight years in prison for his role in a massive inheritance fraud scheme.
The scam defrauded over 400 victims of more than $6 million, with most of the victims elderly and vulnerable.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced that Akhimie, 41, received a 97-month sentence on September 11.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges linked to the transnational fraud.
According to court records, Akhimie and his accomplices sent personalized letters to U.S. residents while posing as bank officials in Spain.
These letters claimed the recipients were heirs to multimillion-dollar estates left by deceased relatives overseas.
Victims were told to pay upfront fees labeled as delivery charges, taxes, and clearance costs before accessing the supposed inheritances.
They were warned that failure to pay could trigger “government scrutiny.”
The money collected was funneled through a web of intermediaries, including U.S.-based former fraud victims.
These individuals were manipulated into serving as conduits for the criminal network.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that no victim ever received the promised inheritance.
In his guilty plea, Akhimie admitted that the scheme generated over $6 million.
U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones condemned the fraud as a deep betrayal of trust. “Schemes like this steal not only money but dignity from our seniors.
We will relentlessly pursue those who prey on the vulnerable,” he said.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate stressed the importance of global cooperation in tackling transnational scams.
He said the Justice Department would continue to track and prosecute such criminals worldwide.
The investigation was spearheaded by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo vowed continued protection for American consumers against international syndicates.
HSI’s Acting Special Agent in Charge, Ray Rede, added, “Defrauding the elderly is not just a betrayal of trust but of humanity. Those who exploit others will face justice.”
Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in the case.
In April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, also received a 97-month prison sentence.
Judge Roy Altman described the fraud as “an incredibly serious crime” targeting society’s most defenseless members.
Other co-defendants have also been sentenced in related proceedings before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
The Department of Justice credited Europol and authorities in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal for their support in the cross-border investigation.
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