A district court in Florida, United States, has charged 36-year-old Nigerian Okezie Ogbata for defrauding over 400 elderly and vulnerable victims out of more than $6 million. Ogbata was found guilty of running a transnational inheritance fraud scheme, as ruled by the Southern District of Florida last Wednesday.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ogbata and his co-conspirators deceived victims with false claims, convincing them to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments in order to avoid suspicion from government authorities. The fraudsters sent letters impersonating a bank representative from Spain, falsely claiming that the recipient was entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance left by a deceased family member who had lived overseas.
In his guilty plea, Ogbata admitted to defrauding more than $6 million from over 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crime.
Ogbata is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman on April 14, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
