A 36-year-old Nigerian national, Okezie Ogbata, has been sentenced to 97 months in prison in the United States for his involvement in a $6 million transnational inheritance fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable elderly individuals across the country. The United States Department of Justice revealed the sentencing in a statement issued on Monday.
Okezie Ogbata was found to be a key participant in a fraudulent operation that spanned several years, during which he and his co-conspirators sent personalized letters to hundreds of elderly Americans. The fraudulent letters claimed that the recipients were entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance, supposedly left to them by a deceased family member from overseas.
These letters falsely stated that the recipient was a beneficiary of a substantial inheritance from a supposed relative who had passed away years ago, leading the victims to believe they were set to receive a windfall. The scam affected more than 400 individuals, primarily elderly or vulnerable members of society, resulting in financial losses exceeding $6 million.
According to the Department of Justice, Okezie Ogbata and his associates convinced the victims to pay various upfront fees—such as delivery charges, taxes, and other costs—on the false premise that these payments were required in order to receive their inheritance. Victims were told that the payments were necessary to avoid government scrutiny, making the scam even more convincing to those unaware of the deception.
Court documents revealed that Okezie Ogbata and his fellow fraudsters devised an intricate scheme to collect the money sent by the victims. They used a network of United States based former victims, who were manipulated into receiving funds on behalf of the perpetrators and forwarding them to the criminals. Despite the large sums of money sent in response to these letters, none of the victims ever received the promised inheritance funds.
Okezie Ogbata Sentencing
The case was described as a testament to the importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational crimes by Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. Roth praised the contributions of U.S. law enforcement partners and international collaborators, such as the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their efforts in helping to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case,” Roth said in the statement.
U.S. Attorney Hayden Byrne for the Southern District of Florida emphasized that American authorities are committed to prosecuting fraudsters wherever they operate, regardless of national borders. “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including the elderly. We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve,” Byrne stated.
Steven Hodges, the Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division, also highlighted the significance of the case. “The USPIS has a long history of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice. Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI, and USPIS,” Hodges said.
Francisco Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Arizona, expressed strong condemnation of the exploitation of elderly victims. “It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime working and building a life and then are duped out of it all,” Burrola said. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour; we will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people.”
Okezie Ogbata’s sentencing is part of a broader effort by U.S. authorities to crack down on transnational fraud schemes that target the elderly and vulnerable. Just days before Ogbata’s sentencing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the arrest of 22 Nigerian nationals in connection with a series of sextortion schemes, underlining the ongoing global fight against cyber-enabled fraud that targets U.S. citizens.
The case against Okezie Ogbata and his associates has highlighted the importance of vigilance and awareness among the public, particularly elderly individuals, who are often the most vulnerable to such sophisticated scams. It serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit unsuspecting victims for financial gain. The conviction of Ogbata reflects the commitment of U.S. authorities to hold international criminals accountable for their actions, ensuring that those who exploit vulnerable populations are brought to justice.
In the wake of Okezie Ogbata’s sentencing, authorities have reiterated their message that they will continue to work collaboratively, both domestically and internationally, to dismantle fraud rings and protect the public from these harmful crimes.
