Mar. 23, 2006 04:45 PM
NEW YORK - Four Nigerian citizens have been indicted on
charges that they ran an "advance fee" scam that promised
consumers a portion of a large inheritance if they agreed to
pay a fee to cover taxes, legal fees and other costs.
In a press release, the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn, N.Y., said Nnamdi Chizuba Anisiobi, Anthony Friday Ehis and Kesandu Egwuonwu are in custody in Amsterdam and awaiting extradition.
They were indicted on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud by a federal grand jury Wednesday, prosecutors said. They could face up to 20 years in prison, while Anisiobi - who is also charged with bank fraud - faces up to 30 years in prison.
A fourth, unnamed individual remains a fugitive, according to the government.
Prosecutors allege the defendants claimed in a spam e-mail to have control of millions of dollars belonging to a terminally ill individual in a foreign country and needed upfront capital to help collect and distribute the funds to charity. In exchange for a payment to cover taxes, legal fees and other costs, they promised victims a portion of the large inheritance, but never delivered the funds as promised, the government said. The scam cost U.S. citizens more than $1.2 million.
The investigation was initiated by Dutch authorities, who notified the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Postal inspectors then began their own investigation.
In a press release, the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn, N.Y., said Nnamdi Chizuba Anisiobi, Anthony Friday Ehis and Kesandu Egwuonwu are in custody in Amsterdam and awaiting extradition.
They were indicted on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud by a federal grand jury Wednesday, prosecutors said. They could face up to 20 years in prison, while Anisiobi - who is also charged with bank fraud - faces up to 30 years in prison.
A fourth, unnamed individual remains a fugitive, according to the government.
Prosecutors allege the defendants claimed in a spam e-mail to have control of millions of dollars belonging to a terminally ill individual in a foreign country and needed upfront capital to help collect and distribute the funds to charity. In exchange for a payment to cover taxes, legal fees and other costs, they promised victims a portion of the large inheritance, but never delivered the funds as promised, the government said. The scam cost U.S. citizens more than $1.2 million.
The investigation was initiated by Dutch authorities, who notified the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Postal inspectors then began their own investigation.