A United States District Court has sentenced Nigerian national, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, to more than eight years in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 victims of more than $6 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced that Akhimie, 41, was sentenced on September 11, 2025, to 97 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.
Court documents revealed that he and his accomplices orchestrated an elaborate scam targeting mainly elderly and vulnerable individuals across the United States.
According to prosecutors, Akhimie and others posed as foreign bank officials, sending personalised letters to victims claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives abroad.
Victims were instructed to pay various charges, including delivery fees and taxes, to secure the supposed funds. These payments were then laundered through a network of intermediaries, including former victims who were deceived into acting as conduits for the syndicate.
U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones condemned the scheme as a betrayal of trust, particularly of senior citizens.
“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.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division underscored the importance of international cooperation in dismantling the fraud network.
He credited U.S. law enforcement, Europol, and agencies in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal for their collaboration.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations led the probe. Acting Inspector in Charge, Bladismir Rojo, said the agencies remain committed to protecting American consumers from transnational fraud.
Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in connection with the case. In April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, received an identical 97-month prison term. Several other co-conspirators have also been jailed in related proceedings.
Judge Roy Altman, who presided over earlier sentencing, described the crimes as “incredibly serious” and emphasised the need for strong punishment to protect vulnerable members of society.
The Department of Justice said the case highlights its ongoing effort to crack down on international fraud networks and bring offenders to justice regardless of their location.