A Nigerian national has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for orchestrating a transnational fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans out of millions of dollars, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, was handed a 97-month sentence for his central role in a complex inheritance fraud operation that spanned multiple countries and exploited some of the most vulnerable members of American society. Court documents revealed that Ogbata and his co-conspirators sent out thousands of fraudulent letters over several years, claiming to be bank representatives from Spain and falsely informing victims that they were heirs to multimillion-dollar fortunes from deceased relatives overseas.
The scheme targeted over 400 victims, most of them elderly, and collectively stole more than \$6 million. Victims were instructed to pay various fees—purportedly for taxes, delivery charges, and government clearance—before they could access their supposed inheritance. These payments were funneled through a web of intermediaries, often other victims manipulated into unwittingly aiding the scheme.
“This case is a chilling reminder of how transnational criminals exploit trust and vulnerability for personal gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The successful prosecution of Mr. Ogbata is a testament to international cooperation and the unwavering commitment of U.S. law enforcement to protect its citizens.”
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. Byrne of the Southern District of Florida echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that geography is no shield for those who commit fraud against Americans: “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly.”
The sentence follows a coordinated investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with critical assistance from Europol and law enforcement agencies in the UK, Spain, and Portugal. Ogbata’s arrest and prosecution were made possible through international collaboration, particularly with the Portuguese Judicial Police and the Public Prosecution Service of Portugal.
“It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime building a life, only to be duped out of it all,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona. “We will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people.”
The case was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch.
Report Fraud
Victims or their family members are urged to report fraud promptly to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP. Prompt reporting may increase the chances of recovering lost funds and helps law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable.
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