A 36-year-old Nigerian national has pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable consumers across the United States.
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a member of a group of fraudsters, sent personalized letters to victims over several years, claiming they were entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left by a family member who had died overseas.
The letters were a series of lies, with Ogbata and his co-conspirators telling victims they needed to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities.
The money was collected through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to them or persons associated with them. However, victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds.
Ogbata admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on January 15.
Ogbata is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman on April 14 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
This is the second indicted case related to this international fraud scheme, with six other co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria previously convicted and sentenced in connection with the scheme.
Related Federal Cases
- Ted Albin, Medicare Scam Mastermind, New York NY, 2023 · Connecticut
- Michael R. Synychak, Illicit Vape Sales, Florida 2023 · New York
- Naomi Ruth Smith, Child Sex Trafficking, Maryland Florida 2023 · Massachusetts
- Duval County Public Schools, Employment Discrimination, Florida, 2023 · Alabama
- Lawrence Destefano, Ghost Gun Ring Operation, Florida, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News