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Nigerian Ehis Akhimie convicted in US for $6 million fraud, faces up to 20 years in prison 

Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, was found guilty by a U.S. federal court of participating in a global inheritance fraud conspiracy that cheated over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans out of more than $6 million.

After Akhimie entered a guilty plea on June 17, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the conviction on Thursday.
Other were also arrested along side him

Press Release

Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to International Fraud Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims
Thursday, July 3, 2025
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For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

A Nigerian national pleaded guilty recently to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly and vulnerable consumers across the United States.

According to court documents, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The 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 for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Akhimie and his co-conspirators allegedly told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Akhimie and his co-conspirators allegedly collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Akhimie admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

“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 Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, 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 National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom for their outstanding contributions to this case.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting American consumers from being defrauded by Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “We have long partnered with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to deliver justice and we will continue to do so.”

“Transnational fraud schemes thrive in the shadows, turning illicit gains into a facade of legitimacy, especially those involving seniors or other vulnerable people,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede for HSI Arizona. “HSI and our law enforcement partners commitment to investigate criminals who steal money sends a clear message: justice will prevail, and those who exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable. We thank all our partners who assisted in this investigation.”

On June 17, Akhimie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Akhimie faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.

This is the second indicted case related to this international fraud scheme. Seven other co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have previously been convicted and sentenced in connection with this scheme. On Nov. 1, 2023, the Honorable Kathleen M. Williams sentenced Ezennia Peter Neboh, who was extradited from Spain, to 128 months of imprisonment. On Oct. 20, 2023, Judge Williams sentenced another defendant who was also extradited from Spain, Kennedy Ikponmwosa, to 97 months of imprisonment. Three other defendants who were extradited from the United Kingdom also received prison sentences. Judge Williams sentenced Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham to prison sentences of 82 months, 87 months, and 90 months, respectively, for their roles in the scheme. Amos Prince Okey Ezemma was paroled into the United States from Nigeria and was sentenced in July 2024 to 90 months imprisonment for his role in the scheme. Lastly, on April 25, the Honorable Roy K. Altman sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, to 97 months of incarceration for his role in the scheme.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nigerian-national-pleads-guilty-international-fraud-scheme-defrauded-elderly-us-victims#:~:text=On%20June%2017%2C%20Akhimie%20pleaded,to%20this%20international%20fraud%20scheme.

Hustle don land Ehis for prison. Lesson for upcoming criminals

$6m? Too much money! If I make this kind money no FBI or CIA or INTERPOL fit see me catch aswerugod!

Some boys are just crazy, you have eaten $6m, what are you going to America or leaving Nigeria to do? Have a great time in prison.

Khallicopyro:
$6m? Too much money! If I make this kind money no FBI or CIA or INTERPOL fit see me catch aswerugod!

say u be Mossad agent ? So far as u get NIN, using registered sim, Phone IMEI. They will get you.

These people keep tarnishing Nigerians image every where they go

cassidy1996:
These people keep tarnishing Nigerians image every where they go

The real tarnisher of Nigeria's image is the one dey call drug lord.

I pray, all internet fraudstars will end like this guy.

Amen

SocialJustice:
Some boys are just crazy, you have eaten $6m, what are you going to America or leaving Nigeria to do? Have a great time in prison.

He was probably extradited.

You can run but you can't hide.

Commentor:
He was probably extradited.

You can run but cannot hide.

True, he should have stayed back in Nigeria and be hard to trace. Build his hotel, pure water or bakery business. He was taken from UK.

Here we fuqin go again
🤦🏽‍♀️
He’ll be put away for a long long time.

We disown them.

On June 17, Akhimie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Akhimie faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.

This is the second indicted case related to this international fraud scheme. Seven other co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have previously been convicted and sentenced in connection with this scheme. On Nov. 1, 2023, the Honorable Kathleen M. Williams sentenced Ezennia Peter Neboh, who was extradited from Spain, to 128 months of imprisonment. On Oct. 20, 2023, Judge Williams sentenced another defendant who was also extradited from Spain, Kennedy Ikponmwosa, to 97 months of imprisonment. Three other defendants who were extradited from the United Kingdom also received prison sentences. Judge Williams sentenced Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham to prison sentences of 82 months, 87 months, and 90 months, respectively, for their roles in the scheme. Amos Prince Okey Ezemma was paroled into the United States from Nigeria and was sentenced in July 2024 to 90 months imprisonment for his role in the scheme. Lastly, on April 25, the Honorable Roy K. Altman sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, to 97 months of incarceration for his role in the scheme.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nigerian-national-pleads-guilty-international-fraud-scheme-defrauded-elderly-us-victims

While some say Yahoo don cast , others are cashing out 6 million dollars...

The Yahoo work nor balance ⚖️⚖️⚖️

You leave naija. Still go out there dey commit crime. Oga oooooo

Common Nigerians tarnish the image of Nigeria more than politicians do.

Just think of any country and at the mention of Nigeria, people start thinking fraud, drugs and scam.

A time will come, Nigerians won’t even be employed into sensitive positions.

These are the people spoiling our names both home and abroad.
Ehis is from Edo state.

I'm very certain he's one of those who badmouth Nigeria that the country is finished and went to a country that is working but still enr up committing different crimes. Let me tell you, Nigeria is not the problem, crime is simply in your blood.

I wish the court can increase the sentencing to 30 years in prison.

Myrepublic:
The real tarnisher of Nigeria's image is the one dey call drug lord.

And they are all over Asian countries serving different prison sentences.

davenews:
Nigerian Ehis Akhimie convicted in US for $6 million fraud, faces up to 20 years in prison 

Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, was found guilty by a U.S. federal court of participating in a global inheritance fraud conspiracy that cheated over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans out of more than $6 million.

After Akhimie entered a guilty plea on June 17, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the conviction on Thursday.
Other were also arrested along side him






https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nigerian-national-pleads-guilty-international-fraud-scheme-defrauded-elderly-us-victims#:~:text=On%20June%2017%2C%20Akhimie%20pleaded,to%20this%20international%20fraud%20scheme.

Later we keep blaming government for everything 🤣

Shey nah Tinubu cause DX one 😂

There's one particular region that av been caught severally on DX issue abroad but they keep blaming FG for everything.

Ndi-developer 😂

Crime is not good. It doesn't pay nitoriolohun, ehn

Na Edo guy.
6m usd yet still on!!
Long throat kill you there
No do crime

Myrepublic:
The real tarnisher of Nigeria's image is the one dey call drug lord.

They full Arabs country and Asia spoiling the image of the country

Khallicopyro:
$6m? Too much money! If I make this kind money no FBI or CIA or INTERPOL fit see me catch aswerugod!

If FBI, CIA or INTERPOL reason your matter, you won’t last a month before you are caught. They will know your whereabouts within a week while they use the remaining 3 weeks to gather hard evidence against you before bringing you in.
You think someone that stole $6m doesnt have the brain to ghost feds?

jamafa:
Later we keep blaming government for everything 🤣

Shey nah Tinubu cause DX one 😂

There's one particular region that av been caught severally on DX issue abroad but they keep blaming FG for everything.

Ndi-developer 😂

Dapo Abiodun is from where?

Always opening mouth waaaaa.

Na una dey vote deported convicts.

Chaii, extend our greetings ti hush puppy and d other street hustlers.
Crime does not pay in a sane country while in a country like Nigeria, we celebrate crime
Still ur man

cassidy1996:
These people keep tarnishing Nigerians image every where they go

Ehis don turn the people you have in mind. Awolowo, wasted his money trying to stop món. keys from Jumping the trèè. M will always be M

They should allow me jail him.
I want that privilege to be the umpire.
Nonsense

No wonder Trump wants to keep them out. These are the same people that support Tinubu

Na wa ooo

Please dont make racist or tribalistic comments in this section.

Why stay in the US and still have the guts to do fraud there....?

They will definately find You.

Dem go too grease this guy ass ooo all does prisoners no de like fraudsters at all.. Na em punishment b dat for prison

Someone will still say, he should be left alone. Because he is only collecting what the whites stole from us.