Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Over 400 Americans in $6 Million Inheritance Scam
A Nigerian national, Okezie Ogbata, 36, pleaded guilty in a Florida district court to defrauding over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million through a transnational inheritance scam.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ogbata and his accomplices deceived victims by sending fraudulent letters purporting to be from representatives of a Spanish bank. These letters falsely informed recipients that they were entitled to inheritances worth millions of dollars from deceased relatives overseas.
Victims were then instructed to send money for “delivery fees, taxes, and other payments” to avoid scrutiny from government authorities.
In his plea on January 15, Ogbata admitted to orchestrating the scheme, which disproportionately targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals.
“This case underscores the critical role of international collaboration in combating transnational crime,” said General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Ogbata is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
