A sixth Nigerian national has admitted to playing a role in an elaborate transnational inheritance fraud scheme that preyed upon elderly and vulnerable individuals across the United States.
Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, 50, confessed to being part of a syndicate that orchestrated a sophisticated scheme by sending personalized letters to elderly victims, falsely claiming to represent a Spanish bank.
These letters promised recipients a multimillion-dollar inheritance from a deceased family member. However, before the victims could access their purported inheritance, they were duped into sending money for fictitious delivery fees and taxes.
Ezemma and his accomplices collected these funds through a network of U.S.-based individuals, many of whom were former victims coerced into forwarding the money.
In his guilty plea, Ezemma admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, a significant number of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting transnational criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, acknowledging the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally in combating such crimes.
Juan A. Vargas, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division, reiterated the agency’s dedication to protecting Americans from fraudulent schemes, underscoring the collaborative efforts between the USPIS, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and other law enforcement agencies.
Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona condemned the unethical actions of fraudsters like Ezemma, particularly in targeting vulnerable populations such as the elderly.
Ezemma pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for July 22. With Ezemma’s guilty plea, all six defendants charged in the indictment have now been convicted for their involvement in the scheme.
The case was investigated by USPIS, HSI, and the Consumer Protection Branch, with critical assistance from various international partners. Phil Toomajian, along with trial attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, are prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice encourages victims of financial fraud, particularly individuals aged 60 and older, to seek assistance through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), managed by the Office for Victims of Crime. Reporting financial losses due to fraud can aid authorities in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators.
For more information and resources related to elder fraud victimization and consumer protection, individuals can visit the Elder Justice Initiative webpage and the Consumer Protection Branch website.
Elder fraud complaints may also be filed with the FTC or by contacting 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime provides additional support for victims of elder fraud.
This collaborative effort underscores the government’s commitment to combatting financial fraud and protecting vulnerable individuals from falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
