A Nigerian national, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, has been sentenced to 97 months (over 8 years) in prison by a United States court for his involvement in an international inheritance fraud scheme.
The US Department of Justice made this known in a statement released on Monday, following the sentencing which took place last Friday.
According to court documents, Ogbata, 36, was part of a criminal network that targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals in the United States by sending them fake inheritance letters over several years.
The scheme, which defrauded over 400 victims of more than $6 million, promised large inheritance payouts in exchange for advance payments. However, victims who sent money never received any inheritance.
Ogbata admitted to the fraud during his trial, acknowledging his role in collecting funds from the unsuspecting victims.
This development comes just days after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed the arrest of 22 Nigerians in connection with a separate sextortion ring targeting young individuals in the US.
