A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, has been sentenced to 19 years in a United States federal prison for orchestrating a romance scam and business email compromise scheme that defrauded victims of more than $4 million.
Mba, also known as Leslie Mba, had pleaded guilty last year ending, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit false statements in immigration documents.
Delivering the sentence, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered that Mba serve his term in federal custody. Authorities confirmed that Mba is not a U.S. citizen and will face removal proceedings upon completion of his prison term.
According to prosecutors, Mba and his co-conspirators operated the fraud scheme in previous year’s targeting individuals and businesses both within and outside the United States.
Court documents revealed that the operation typically began overseas, where collaborators gained unauthorised access to legitimate business email accounts and redirected payments into fraudulent bank accounts. Victims, believing they were transferring funds to trusted business partners or romantic interests, unknowingly funnelled money into accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Investigators said Mba and others functioned as “money mules,” opening or using bank accounts to receive and move proceeds of the fraud. At sentencing, the court heard that total losses from the scheme exceeded $4 million.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei condemned the crimes, describing romance scams as particularly damaging because they exploit vulnerable individuals.
“Romance scams are among the lowest and most despicable forms of fraud because they prey upon the lonely and vulnerable and disproportionately victimise senior citizens,” Ganjei said.
“Even worse, Mba and his confederates committed these crimes while attempting to remain in our country under false pretences by deceiving immigration authorities. Now, Mba has prison to look forward to, followed by a one-way ticket back to Nigeria,” he added.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the case alongside the Houston Police Department, said victims were left financially and emotionally devastated.
“Romance scams cruelly manipulate trust, exploit the fear of loneliness and leave victims both financially devastated and emotionally shattered,” said Jason Hudson, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Houston. He added that the agency would continue to pursue and prosecute fraudsters targeting unsuspecting victims.
Authorities also disclosed that Mba attempted to secure U.S. permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied and he had been ordered removed from the country.
Four other Houston residents — Grace Morisho, 30; Rodgers Kadikilo, 30; Kristin Smith, 38; and Alexandra Golovko, 36 — had earlier pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme. Morisho, Kadikilo and Smith received prison sentences ranging from 15 to 25 months, while Golovko was sentenced to five years’ probation.
Mba will remain in custody pending transfer to a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Alum prosecuted the case.
