A 40‑year‑old Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, who resided illegally in Houston, Texas, has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison — 228 months — for his role in a romance‑scam and business‑email‑compromise scheme that defrauded victims of over 4 million dollars.
Mba pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents, after prosecutors alleged that he orchestrated online scams between April 2018 and December 2023 that targeted individuals and businesses in the United States.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered the sentence in the Southern District of Texas, adding that Mba, who is not a U.S. citizen, will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his prison term.
Authorities said Mba also sought to secure lawful permanent residency by entering into multiple fraudulent marriages after an initial application was rejected, blending immigration fraud with a wider digital‑fraud network.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, who announced the outcome, described the operation as a “$4 million conspiracy” that weaponised romance scams and forged business‑email traffic to divert victims’ funds to accounts controlled by the scheme.
Mba and several associates in and outside the United States were part of a multi‑year network; other participants in Houston have already received shorter prison terms or probation for supporting roles.
