Man sentenced to 120 months in prison for Nigerian mail fraud scheme

A 39-year-old Lake Charles man was sentenced to federal prison for his role in a Nigerian mail fraud scheme in Texas, U.S. Attorney John M. Bales said Wednesday.

Heesham Broussard, also known as Sudan, was found guilty by a jury in July for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft following a four-day trial, Bales said at the time.

He was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and was also ordered to pay $13,700 restitution to the victims.

 According to court information, 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," Bales said at the time.

 "Broussard served as a re-shipper 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 million."

 Broussard was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 22, 2014. His co-conspirators, Olumide Lalemi, or “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 Wednesday. Lalemi is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 1 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.