Lake Charles, Louisiana, Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Nigerian Mail Fraud Scheme

TYLER, Texas – A 39-year-old Lake Charles, Louisiana, man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a Nigerian mail fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Heesham Broussard a/k/a “Sudan,” was found guilty by a jury in July 2015, of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.  Broussard was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,700 to the victims of the offenses.

 According to information presented in court, Broussard participated in a Nigerian-based mail fraud scheme that distributed counterfeit postal money orders and checks.  The scheme targeted victims throughout the United States.  Victims of the scheme were led to believe that they were working as mystery shoppers.  Broussard served as a reshipper or dispatcher of counterfeit postal money orders and checks.  As part of the scheme, he sent packages to more than 600 intended victims and sent counterfeit items bearing a face value of more than $1,000,000.  Broussard was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 22, 2014.

Broussard’s co-conspirators, Olumide Lalemi a/k/a “Paul Smith,” the Nigerian organizer of the scheme, and Victoria Williams, a reshipper, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  Williams was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today by Judge Schneider.  Lalemi is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 1, 2016 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and D. Ryan Locker.

Any individuals with knowledge of these or other mail fraud violations are encouraged to contact the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Tip Line at 877-876-2455.