Ezennia Peter Neboh, Inheritance Fraud, Florida 2022
Nigerian National Extradited to Face Inheritance Fraud Charges
A massive transnational fraud scheme has been uncovered, with six Nigerian nationals, including Ezennia Peter Neboh, 48, and Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, 49, being charged with operating the scheme. Neboh, a resident of Madrid, Spain, was extradited from the United Kingdom and made his initial appearance in Miami today.
The indictment, filed in the Southern District of Florida, alleges that the defendants sent personalized letters to elderly consumers in the U.S., falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The victims were told that they had to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities.
The victims who sent money never received their purported inheritance funds. According to court documents, the defendants convinced U.S.-based former victims to serve as money mules, sending money to the defendants through a complex web of transactions.
The scheme has been ongoing since more than five years, with Neboh, Ikponmwosa, Abraham, Samuel, and Ozor being arrested in April 2022 by authorities in Madrid and London. Okey Ezemma remains at large.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as mail fraud and wire fraud. If convicted, Emmanuel Samuel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Consumer Protection Branch, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case. The successful extradition of the defendant is the result of a dynamic and coordinated investigative effort by HSI, law enforcement, and judicial partners.
Ezennia Peter Neboh, 48, of Madrid, Spain, faces federal charges in Miami. He made his initial appearance in Miami today, and his extradition proceedings are ongoing. Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, 49, of Madrid, Spain, remains at large and is wanted for his involvement in the scheme. The other defendants, Kennedy Ikponmwosa, 51, Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham, 44, Emmanuel Samuel, 39, and Jerry Chucks Ozor, 43, are also facing charges and are currently incarcerated.
The scheme targeted elderly consumers in the U.S., with the defendants sending personalized letters claiming that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The victims were told to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long tradition of protecting citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice. The indictment unsealed today is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Consumer Protection Branch, HSI, and USPIS to protect U.S. citizens from these scams.
The case highlights the dangers of inheritance scams and the importance of being cautious when receiving unsolicited letters or emails claiming to be from a bank or financial institution. If you or someone you know has been a victim of an inheritance scam, contact the authorities immediately.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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