A Nigerian national, Tochukwu Albert Nnebocha, has been extradited from Poland to the United States to face federal charges for his alleged role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded numerous elderly Americans of their life savings.
Nnebocha, 43, made his initial court appearance on Monday, September 29, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett in the Southern District of Florida. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), he was arrested in April 2025 by Polish authorities based on an indictment filed in Florida and had remained in custody pending extradition.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Court documents allege that Nnebocha was part of a criminal organization that operated an international inheritance scam for over five years. The scheme involved sending personalized letters to elderly individuals across the United States, falsely claiming that the recipient was entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance from a long-lost relative who had supposedly died in Spain.
Victims were told they had to pay various fees — including taxes, delivery charges, and government clearance costs — in order to claim the fictitious inheritance. The funds were funneled through a network of intermediaries, many of whom were former victims themselves, who had been manipulated into forwarding the money to the perpetrators or their associates.
None of the victims ever received the promised inheritance.
Charges and Potential Penalty
Nnebocha is charged with:
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Conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud
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Mail fraud
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Wire fraud
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
A federal judge will determine the final sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory considerations.
Related Defendants and Sentences
Two other individuals involved in the scheme have already been convicted and sentenced:
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Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal
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Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, extradited from the United Kingdom
Both were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman to 97 months in prison for their roles in the fraud.
Broader DOJ Efforts to Combat Elder Fraud
The DOJ emphasized that this case is part of its broader initiative to protect senior citizens from domestic and international fraud, including:
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Romance scams, where fraudsters exploit emotional connections to steal money
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Lottery fraud, tricking victims into paying fees for non-existent prizes
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Tech support scams, falsely claiming devices are infected to extract payments
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Grandparent scams, where scammers impersonate relatives in fake emergencies
Investigation and Prosecution
The case is being investigated by:
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The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
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Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
It is being prosecuted by:
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Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian
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Trial Attorney Josh Rothman
of the DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch
The DOJ credited the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the FBI Legal Attaché in Poland, INTERPOL, and Polish authorities for their critical roles in securing the extradition.
