U.S. Court Sentences Nigerian Scammer to 85 Months in Prison for Defrauding American Seniors

A Nigerian national, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, 50, has been sentenced to 85 months in federal prison for his involvement in an elaborate international inheritance scam targeting elderly Americans. Ezemma was part of a criminal network that deceived victims by sending personalized letters claiming they were entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance from a deceased relative.

The scam, which involved fraudulent claims of inheritance from a Spanish bank, required victims to pay fees and taxes before supposedly receiving their funds. The fraudulent network exploited a complex system where initial victims were coerced into receiving and forwarding money from new victims.

Federal authorities have emphasized the case’s significance in combating transnational crime. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton lauded the international cooperation between U.S. and European law enforcement agencies, while Inspector Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service highlighted the commitment to dismantling such networks.

Ezemma’s sentencing follows that of his five co-defendants, who have each received prison terms ranging from 82 to 128 months. Collectively, they have been ordered to pay over $6 million in restitution to more than 400 victims.

The investigation was conducted by the Consumer Protection Branch, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with substantial assistance from international partners.