The U.S. federal court sentenced Nigerian citizen Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata to eight years and four months in prison for orchestrating a massive international fraud scheme that defrauded more than 400 U.S. victims over $6 million.
The 36-year-old was convicted of a complicated succession scam planned by the United States, targeting seniors and vulnerable groups. According to court documents, Ogbata served as representative of Spanish financial institutions and mailed hundreds of fraudulent letters claiming that the recipient was a million-dollar heir from deceased relatives abroad.
To obtain a false inheritance, the victim was told to pay various upfront fees, including delivery fees, taxes and administrative fees. The funds were incorporated into bank accounts controlled by the Ogbata network, including co-conspirators and even rigged as victims of intermediaries.
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The fraud has been in operation for several years, causing not only significant financial losses, but also emotional distress for many affected people. U.S. authorities describe the plan as one of the most sophisticated inheritance fraud cases involving Nigerian nationals.
Ogbata’s arrest is the result of extensive international cooperation between the United States and Portuguese law enforcement agencies. He was arrested while residing in Portugal through a joint effort involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Portuguese Judicial Police and the Portuguese Prosecutor’s Office.
“This case demonstrates the critical role of international cooperation in resolving transnational crime,” said Yaakov Roth, acting assistant attorney general of the civil division of the Ministry of Justice.
He added: “The Department of Justice’s consumer protection department will continue to pursue, prosecute and incorporate judicial justice into transnational criminals, responsible for deceiving American consumers, no matter where they are.”
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Ogbata to confiscate assets obtained through the scheme and to potentially compensate victims.
U.S. prosecutors stressed that the case sent a strong message to other fraudsters that such crimes would not be punished when acting internationally.
Authorities urge the public to remain cautious and hope to provide substantial funds in exchange for upfront payments. They recommend consulting a trusted legal professional before responding to inheritance claims and reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Ogbata’s conviction highlights the growing threat of cross-border financial scams and strengthens the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting its citizens through global law enforcement efforts.
