Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Nigerian national has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, received his sentence in Miami on September 11, following his guilty plea to orchestrating the elaborate scam.
According to court documents, Akhimie was part of a group that sent personalized letters to elderly individuals across the United States. These letters falsely claimed the sender represented a Spanish bank and that the recipient was entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance from a deceased family member overseas.
The fraudsters, including Akhimie, subsequently demanded various payments for “delivery fees,” “taxes,” and other charges, asserting these were necessary to avoid government scrutiny before the inheritance could be released. Victims who sent money never received any of the promised funds.
Akhimie and his co-conspirators collected money from victims through a complex network of U.S.-based individuals. These individuals, often former victims themselves, were convinced to receive funds and then forward them to the defendants or their associates.
Officials Condemn Fraud, Praise Collaboration
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the severe impact of such crimes. “Schemes like this steal not only money but dignity from our seniors,” Quiñones stated, affirming the office’s commitment to victims and relentless pursuit of those who exploit them.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division highlighted the ongoing effort to combat international fraud. “The Justice Department will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” Shumate said, acknowledging the critical role of international collaboration, including partners from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service.
Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to protecting American consumers from Transnational Criminal Organizations. “We have long partnered with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to deliver justice and we will continue to do so,” Rojo stated.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede for HSI Arizona characterized the fraud as a profound betrayal. “Defrauding the elderly and other vulnerable populations is a betrayal of not just trust but of humanity,” Rede remarked, underscoring law enforcement’s commitment to holding exploiters accountable.
The sentencing of Ehis Lawrence Akhimie underscores the Justice Department’s continued efforts to dismantle international fraud operations and protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation. Authorities remain committed to pursuing justice for victims and prosecuting those who perpetrate such schemes, often relying on global partnerships to achieve these goals.
