Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraud Scheme

MIAMI - A Nigerian national has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme which involved the impersonation of property owners and the fraudulent negotiation of vacant lot properties. The sentencing comes after the defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and mail fraud in January.

Between April 2022 and April 2023, Uwa Nosakhare, 26, and others attempted to sell vacant lot properties in Palm Beach County, Fla., without the owners' authorization. The fraudsters used the property owners' and other victims' personal identifiable information (PII), without their knowledge, to create fake driver licenses, notary credentials, bank account statements and several other property sale documents. After the fraudulent property sale was completed, the buyers were provided with wire instructions to transfer the sale proceeds to bank accounts controlled by those involved in the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) and Chief Michele Miuccio of the Boca Raton Police Department announced the sentence.

FBI Miami, HSI Miami, PBSO and the Boca Raton Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chapman prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-80084.

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