A Nigerian national was sentenced today to 85 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. With today’s sentencing, each of the six defendants connected with this matter has been sentenced.
According to court documents, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, 50, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States. These letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left by a family member who had died years before in Portugal. Victims were told they needed to send money for delivery fees and taxes before receiving their purported inheritance and were instructed to make other payments. The victims sent money through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims. The defendant and his co-conspirators also convinced former victims to receive money from new victims and then forward the fraud proceeds to others.
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank the members of the Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Spanish National Police, National Crime Agency and Portuguese Judicial Police for their outstanding contributions to this case.”
“This investigation is a great example of the results the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners strive to achieve,” said Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the USPIS Miami Division. “We will continue to identify and dismantle transnational groups targeting American citizens and using the mail to further their schemes to defraud. Justice has no borders.”
“Targeting the elderly for pure financial gain is beyond shameful; it’s morally reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “Protecting such a vulnerable population is not just the responsibility of family members but also law enforcement agencies like HSI and our partners. Together, we are a force multiplier committed to apprehending those who scam our seniors. Let these lengthy sentences serve as reminders that HSI will not tolerate criminals who are motivated by greed.”
Each of Ezemma’s five co-defendants has been sentenced to prison for their roles in the scheme: Emmanuel Samuel received 82 months on June 21, 2023; Jerry Chucks Ozor received 87 months on July 25, 2023; Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham received 90 months on August 29, 2023; Kennedy Ikponmwosa received 87 months on October 20, 2023; Peter Ezennia Neboh received 128 months on November 2, 2023. Judge Williams also ordered Ezemma and his co-defendants to pay more than $6 million in restitution to over 400 victims.
The Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and HSI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner from the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting this case with critical assistance from several organizations including Europol.
If you or someone you know aged 60 or older has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This hotline is managed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support by assessing needs and identifying next steps including connecting callers with appropriate agencies.
More information about elder fraud can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch or www.ovc.gov.