Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty to $6 Million Fraud Targeting Elderly Victims in the U.S.

A 36-year-old Nigerian national, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in a transnational scam that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable victims of more than $6 million. The guilty plea was entered in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, with sentencing scheduled for April 14, 2025, before Judge Roy K. Altman. Ogbata faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the elaborate scheme involved sending fraudulent letters to victims, falsely claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased family members overseas. The victims were then tricked into sending money for supposed delivery fees, taxes, and other administrative costs to facilitate the release of their inheritance funds. However, no such inheritances existed, and the entire operation was built on deception.

Ogbata and his network operated within the United States for several years, using a network of individuals—some of whom were former victims—to collect and forward the stolen funds. His plea marks a significant milestone in the U.S. government’s efforts to dismantle transnational fraud networks that prey on vulnerable individuals.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combatting such crimes. He credited the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Portuguese authorities for their efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to prosecuting criminals who exploit the elderly. He stated that fraudsters targeting American consumers will be held accountable regardless of their location.

Ogbata is the latest individual convicted in connection with this international fraud scheme. Six other co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have already been sentenced. In November 2023, Ezennia Peter Neboh was sentenced to 128 months in prison after being extradited from Spain. The previous month, Kennedy Ikponmwosa received a 97-month sentence. Three defendants extradited from the UK—Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham—were sentenced to 82, 87, and 90 months, respectively. Additionally, Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, who was paroled into the U.S. from Nigeria, was sentenced to 90 months.