Anthony Drakes and Richard Brewster wrote people unsolicited letters purporting to be from either a senior Nigerian civil servant, government representative, or successful businessman advising them of a business opportunity.

The offer involved the supposed transfer of millions of dollars out of Nigeria from an over-billed government or company contract into the victim’s account.

But before the victims could get the money, they were asked to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fictional transaction or advance payment fees.

“They went from frustration to despair as they were repeatedly asked for more money, (before) they realized they had been duped,” Justice Gloria Epstein said Tuesday.

The Superior Court judge sentenced Drakes, a 39-year-old married father of three, to five years in prison.

In January she convicted him of attempted fraud, money laundering and defrauding four Americans, including one 92-year-old man from the Buffalo area, and many others of at least $850,000 (U.S.).

She sentenced Brewster, 38, to four years in prison for attempted fraud, money laundering and defrauding two Americans and a host of other unnamed investors of at least $550,000 (U.S.).

Although the victims thought they were dealing with companies in Detroit, Chicago and New York, they were in fact dealing with the two fraudsters operating from their boiler room situated in a condo on Dean Park Rd., near Meadowvale Rd. and Sheppard Ave. E.

Drakes and Brewster used aliases, voice alteration devices, plus telephone- and fax-forwarded numbers to convince their dupes they were speaking to several representatives in various cities.

Defence lawyers Gregory Lafontaine, representing Drakes, and Michael Lacy, representing Brewster, had noted that their clients have no previous criminal record and suggested sentences to be served in the community - essentially house arrest.

Crown prosecutors Feroza Bhabha and Susan Magotiaux had suggested five to six years in prison for Drakes and four to five for Brewster.

Although Epstein found that three of the victims greedily believed they were participating in a scheme to defraud the Nigerian government, she said that cannot justify the fraud. The victims have “suffered beyond measure,” she said. One victim lost the family home, and another was unable to pay for his children’s college education, she said.

The fraudsters have not expressed any remorse and the money has not been recovered, the judge said.

“They never had any intention to return anything of value to their prey,” she said.

Drakes and Brewster nodded to a few supporters in the courtroom as they were led away in handcuffs.