Nigerian man convicted in US for defrauding over 400 Americans of $6m

A 36-year-old Nigerian, Okezie Ogbata, has been charged by a Florida district court for defrauding more than 400 victims, mostly elderly and vulnerable, out of more than $6 million.

Ogbata was convicted last Wednesday by the Southern District of Florida for running a cross-border inheritance fraud operation.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that Ogbata and his associates deceived victims into sending money for supposed “delivery fees, taxes, and other charges” in order to avoid suspicion from authorities.

The scheme involved fraudulent letters claiming the sender was a bank representative in Spain and informing recipients that they were entitled to a large inheritance left by a deceased relative abroad.

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Admitting his guilt, Ogbata acknowledged defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 individuals, many of whom were senior citizens or otherwise vulnerable.

General Brian Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, commented on the case, saying, “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime.”

Ogbata is set to be sentenced on April 14, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.