Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian citizen, has been handed a 97-month prison sentence for orchestrating a cross-border inheritance scam targeting elderly Americans.
The announcement was made public by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida through a Department of Justice release dated Monday, September 15, 2025.
Akhimie, aged 41, was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States and sentenced on September 11, 2025, as detailed in the official statement.
This sentencing marks the eighth conviction of Nigerian nationals involved in this elaborate fraud operation.
Court records reveal that Akhimie was part of a syndicate that sent deceptive letters over several years to senior citizens across the U.S. These letters falsely represented the senders as bank officials from Spain, informing recipients they were entitled to a substantial inheritance from a deceased relative abroad.
The scammers fabricated stories claiming that before the inheritance could be released, victims needed to pay fees such as taxes and delivery charges to avoid legal complications.
To collect these illicit payments, Akhimie and his associates employed a network of former victims within the U.S., convincing them to receive and forward funds to the conspirators. None of the victims ever received the promised inheritances.
Upon pleading guilty, Akhimie acknowledged defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 individuals, many of whom were elderly or otherwise susceptible.
“Fraud schemes like this rob our seniors not only of their money but also their dignity,” stated U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Our office remains steadfast in supporting victims, amplifying their voices, and pursuing those who exploit them without mercy.”
Brett A. Shumate, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, emphasized, “The Department of Justice is committed to tracking down and prosecuting international criminals who defraud American consumers, regardless of their location. This case highlights the importance of global cooperation in combating transnational crime. We extend our gratitude to our U.S. law enforcement partners and international collaborators, including the UK’s National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service, for their invaluable assistance.”
Bladismir Rojo, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division, remarked, “Protecting American consumers from fraud perpetrated by international criminal organizations is a top priority. Our longstanding partnership with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch continues to be vital in delivering justice.”
“Exploiting elderly and vulnerable populations is a profound violation of trust and humanity,” said Ray Rede, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to investigating and holding accountable those who steal from others. We appreciate the cooperation of all agencies involved in this investigation.”
According to the statement, Akhimie is the eighth individual sentenced in connection with this fraud ring. Previously, District Court Judge Kathleen M. Williams sentenced six other defendants involved in related cases.
On April 25, District Court Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, to 97 months imprisonment. Judge Altman described the offense as “an extremely serious crime” warranting a significant sentence to protect society’s most vulnerable members who have done nothing wrong.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, with crucial support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and law enforcement agencies in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.
Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian, along with Trial Attorney Josh Rothman from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, are leading the prosecution efforts.
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