A 36-year-old Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a transnational inheritance scam that defrauded over 400 victims, primarily elderly and vulnerable individuals, of more than $6 million....Read Full Article >>➤
Ogbata entered the guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2025, before Judge Roy K. Altman. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the elaborate fraud operation spanned several years and involved personalised letters purporting to represent a Spanish bank.
The letters falsely claimed recipients were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives overseas. Victims were tricked into sending payments for supposed delivery fees, taxes, and other charges required to release their “inheritance funds.” However, no funds existed, and the entire operation was a scam.
Ogbata and his network used U.S.-based accomplices, many of whom were former victims, to collect and transfer the stolen money. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, pointed out the significance of international cooperation in combating such crimes.
“This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime,” Boynton said, thanking U.S. and international agencies for their contributions to the case.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida stated the commitment to protecting vulnerable populations: “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. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”
This is the second high-profile case involving the international fraud ring. Several co-conspirators have already been convicted and sentenced, including Ezennia Peter Neboh, extradited from Spain and sentenced to 128 months in prison; Kennedy Ikponmwosa, also extradited from Spain and sentenced to 97 months; Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham extradited from the UK and sentenced to 82, 87, and 90 months, respectively; and Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, extradited from Nigeria and sentenced to 90 months in prison. ...Read Full Article >>➤
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