$6 Million Fraud: Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty in U.S. Inheritance Scheme
A Nigerian man, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, has pleaded guilty to his role in a transnational inheritance fraud operation that swindled over $6 million from more than 400 victims across the United States. The victims, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable, were targeted by a network of fraudsters who promised them multimillion-dollar inheritances.
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, entered the guilty plea on January 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. According to court documents, Ogbata was part of a group that sent fraudulent letters to elderly Americans, claiming they were entitled to a large inheritance left by a deceased relative overseas. The letters falsely identified the sender as a representative of a Spanish bank, further convincing victims that they had inherited substantial sums.
The scam involved a web of deceit, with Ogbata and his co-conspirators instructing victims to send money for various fabricated costs, including delivery fees and taxes, to release the supposed inheritance. The funds were funneled through a complex network of U.S.-based individuals, many of whom were former victims themselves, who helped collect and forward the money to Ogbata and his associates.
However, none of the victims ever received the inheritance they were promised. In total, Ogbata and his co-conspirators defrauded more than 400 people, causing losses exceeding $6 million. In pleading guilty, Ogbata admitted to his part in this extensive fraud operation that targeted vulnerable individuals.
“This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime,” said Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. Boynton also expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies from the U.S. and abroad, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Portuguese Judicial Police, for their work on the case.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe emphasized the commitment of the American justice system to hold fraudsters accountable, no matter where they are located. “We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve, especially the most vulnerable,” Lapointe said.
Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Steven Hodges praised the collaboration between the Department of Justice, USPIS, and HSI in bringing the fraudsters to justice. “This guilty plea underscores our ongoing commitment to protecting American citizens from these types of scams,” Hodges stated.
The case is part of a larger crackdown on this international fraud ring, with six other co-conspirators already convicted and sentenced. Among those sentenced were Ezennia Peter Neboh and Kennedy Ikponmwosa, both extradited from Spain, who received prison sentences of 128 months and 97 months, respectively. Additionally, three co-defendants from the United Kingdom—Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham—were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 82 to 90 months. Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, who was paroled from Nigeria, was also sentenced to 90 months in prison.
U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman is scheduled to sentence Ogbata on April 14, 2025. For his role in the scheme, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
