Nigerian National Extradicted From U.K And Sentenced to 15 Years in U.S. Prison for Defrauding Elderly Victims, in an Inheritance Fraud Scheme

A 39-year-old Nigerian citizen named Emmanuel Samuel, who was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States, has been sentenced to 82 months in prison for his involvement in an international inheritance fraud scheme.

According to court documents, Samuel was part of a group of scammers who targeted elderly victims in the United States by sending personalized letters. 

These letters falsely claimed to be from a representative of a Spanish bank, stating that the recipients were entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance left by a deceased family member from Portugal.

Earlier this year, Samuel, along with Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham and Jerry Chucks Ozor, was extradited from the United Kingdom and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eduardo I. Sanchez in Miami.

The victims were informed that in order to receive their supposed inheritance, they needed to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid scrutiny from government authorities.

The defendants created a complex network involving former victims based in the United States. 

These former victims were convinced to receive money from new victims and then transfer the fraudulently obtained funds to others.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, who heads the Department of Justice's Civil Division, stated, "The Department of Justice'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. 

Working together, U.S. and foreign law enforcement can and will thwart schemes such as the one charged in this case and prevent further loss to American victims."

Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division emphasized the long-standing commitment of the USPIS to protecting American citizens from such schemes and holding the responsible individuals accountable.

Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona expressed his gratitude for the collaborative efforts between HSI agents and partner agencies in dismantling criminal organizations that target unsuspecting elderly victims, causing financial devastation.

On June 21, 2023, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams sentenced Samuel in Miami and ordered him to make restitution payments to his victims. 

Two additional co-defendants, Jonathan Abraham and Jerry Ozor, who were also involved in the case, will be sentenced by Judge Williams in the coming months.

The Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and HSI are jointly investigating this case. 

Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner from the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch are responsible for prosecuting the case. 

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal have provided crucial assistance in this investigation.