A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, to more than eight years in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance scam that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of $6 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said Akhimie, 41, was handed a 97-month jail term on September 11 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.
Prosecutors said no victim received any inheritance, with the funds instead diverted for the fraudsters’ personal gain.
According to court filings, Akhimie and his accomplices posed as Spanish bank officials, sending personalised letters to victims in the U.S. They falsely claimed that recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar estates but had to pay taxes, delivery fees, and other charges before accessing the money.
Officials condemn scam
U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones described the crime as a betrayal of trust, stressing that such schemes stripped seniors of both money and dignity. “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 highlighted the importance of international collaboration in prosecuting cross-border fraud. He praised the support of agencies in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, alongside Europol and the U.S. Office of International Affairs.
Investigators said the fraud ring also manipulated former victims in America, convincing them to act as intermediaries to channel funds. U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations led the probe, vowing to sustain pressure on syndicates behind such scams.
Series of convictions
Akhimie is the eighth defendant to be sentenced in the case. In April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, received the same 97-month jail term from District Court Judge Roy Altman.
Judge Altman described the scam as an “incredibly serious crime” that warranted strong punishment to protect society’s most vulnerable. Other defendants had earlier been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in related proceedings.
The Department of Justice said the convictions again highlighted Nigeria’s recurring link with international fraud cases. U.S. authorities in recent years have prosecuted several Nigerians in romance scams, internet fraud and other transnational financial crimes.