US Court Hands Nigerian National 19-Year Prison Term for Multi-Million Dollar Scam

A Nigerian national, Leslie Mba, 40, has been sentenced to 19 years in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a $4 million romance and business email fraud scheme. Following his prison term, Mba is expected to face deportation.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed down the 228-month sentence after Mba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements in immigration documents. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

According to prosecutors, between April 2018 and December 2023, Mba and accomplices ran an international scheme targeting individuals and businesses. They accessed business email accounts abroad, diverting legitimate payments into U.S. accounts under their control. Victims, believing they were paying legitimate businesses, unknowingly transferred funds to the fraudsters.

Mba acted as a money mule, using bank accounts to receive and move the stolen funds. The scheme resulted in losses exceeding $4 million.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei described the crimes as especially troubling, noting that romance scams exploit vulnerable individuals, including senior citizens. “Mba and his confederates committed these crimes while attempting to remain in the U.S. under false pretences,” Ganjei said.

FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge, Jason Hudson, highlighted the emotional and financial harm inflicted by the scheme, emphasizing the agency’s ongoing efforts to pursue fraudsters.

Investigators also revealed Mba tried to obtain U.S. permanent residency through fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied.

Four other Houston residents involved—Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith, and Alexandra Golovko—had pleaded guilty. Morisho, Kadikilo, and Smith received sentences of 15 to 25 months, while Golovko received five years’ probation.

Mba remains in custody pending transfer to a federal prison.