A Nigerian, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, was sentenced on Monday to 85 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. This sentencing marks the conclusion for all six defendants involved in the case.

Ezemma, 50, and his co-conspirators sent fraudulent letters to elderly U.S. victims, falsely claiming they were entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance from a deceased family member in Portugal. Victims were required to send money for supposed delivery fees and taxes, which were funneled through a complex network of former victims in the U.S.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton praised the international cooperation involved in tackling the crime, while Inspector Juan A. Vargas of the USPIS Miami Division emphasized the commitment to dismantling such transnational fraud schemes.

Special Agent Fransisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona condemned the targeting of the elderly and stressed the collaborative efforts to protect vulnerable populations.

The other defendants received prison sentences ranging from 82 to 128 months. All six, including Ezemma, were ordered to pay over $6 million in restitution to more than 400 victims. The case was investigated by the Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and HSI, with support from various international agencies and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.