Okezie Ogbata, a Nigerian national, has pleaded guilty in a Florida district court to orchestrating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million.

The 36-year-old, along with accomplices, deceived victims by sending fraudulent letters claiming to be from a Spanish bank. The letters falsely informed recipients that they were entitled to inherit multimillion-dollar estates left by deceased relatives overseas. Victims were instructed to pay fees for delivery, taxes, and other costs to avoid government scrutiny.

In his plea on January 15, Ogbata admitted to masterminding the scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals. “This case highlights the importance of international cooperation in fighting transnational crimes,” said General Brian Boynton of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Division.

Ogbata is scheduled for sentencing on April 14, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.