Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Nigerian national, Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, 43, was extradited from the Republic of Poland and made his initial appearance in federal court in Miami on Monday, September 29, 2025. Nnebocha faces federal charges for his alleged role in a transnational criminal organization that defrauded numerous American seniors through an elaborate inheritance fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Nnebocha and his co-conspirators operated the scheme for over five years. They allegedly sent personalized letters to elderly individuals in the U.S., falsely claiming to be representatives of a Spanish bank. These letters informed recipients they were entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance from a deceased family member in Spain.
Victims were then instructed to send money for purported delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid government scrutiny before they could receive their inheritance. The funds were channeled through a complex network of U.S.-based individuals, often former victims, who were convinced to receive and forward money to the defendants or their associates. No victim ever received their promised inheritance funds.
Charges and Penalties
Nnebocha is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as individual counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of a broader crackdown on the scheme. Two other defendants, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata and Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 97 months of incarceration. Ogbata was extradited from Portugal, and Akhimie was extradited from the United Kingdom for their involvement.
Ongoing Enforcement Efforts
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Josh Rothman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the matter, with critical assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the FBI Legal Attache in Poland, INTERPOL, and Polish Authorities.
This prosecution highlights the Justice Department’s continued efforts to protect American seniors from both domestic and foreign-based scams. These initiatives target various types of elder fraud, including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams, aiming to dismantle criminal enterprises that prey on vulnerable populations.
