A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, to more than eight years in prison for his role in a cross-border inheritance scam that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of more than $6 million.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Akhimie, 41, was sentenced on September 11 to 97 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.

Court documents revealed that Akhimie and his partners sent personalised letters to victims in the U.S., posing as bank officials in Spain. The letters falsely claimed the recipients were entitled to multi-million-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives overseas.

Victims were instructed to pay several fees, including taxes, delivery charges, and other costs, to supposedly access the inheritance. Instead, the funds were diverted through intermediaries, including former fraud victims who were manipulated into serving as conduits for the syndicate.

Authorities confirmed that no victim received any inheritance, as the fraudsters only enriched themselves while exploiting vulnerable individuals.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones condemned the scheme, describing it as a betrayal of trust. “Schemes like this steal not only money but dignity from our seniors. Our Office stands with victims, ensures their voices are heard, and will relentlessly pursue those who prey on them,” he said.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division highlighted the importance of global collaboration in combating international scams. “The Justice Department will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. This case underscores the critical role of international cooperation,” he said, acknowledging support from U.S. agencies and law enforcement partners in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which investigated the case alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers. Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo said, “We are committed to safeguarding Americans from transnational fraud schemes. We will continue to work with the Department of Justice to deliver justice.”

Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede of HSI Arizona added: “Defrauding the elderly and other vulnerable groups is not just a betrayal of trust but of humanity itself. Justice will prevail, and those who exploit others will be held accountable.”

Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in the case. Earlier in April, another Nigerian, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, received the same 97-month prison term from District Court Judge Roy Altman, who described the offence as “an incredibly serious crime” requiring strong punishment to protect “the most vulnerable members of society.”

Other defendants have previously received prison terms in related proceedings before Judge Kathleen Williams. The Department of Justice confirmed that the investigation received support from Europol and law enforcement authorities in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.

The case has once again drawn attention to the recurring involvement of Nigerians in cross-border fraud, with U.S. authorities in recent years prosecuting several individuals for internet scams, romance fraud, and other financial crimes.