U.S District Court jails Nigerian national 19 years for $4m romance, email fraud

A US federal court has sentenced a 40-year-old Nigerian, Leslie Mba, to 19 years in prison for his involvement in a $4m romance scam and business email compromise operation.

The 228-month sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge David Hittner after Mba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents. Upon completion of his sentence, Mba — who is not a U.S. citizen — is expected to face deportation proceedings.

The conviction was announced on Monday in a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Prosecutors said that between April 2018 and December 2023, Mba and his co-conspirators orchestrated a cross-border fraud scheme targeting individuals and businesses through romance scams and hijacked corporate email accounts.

According to investigators, members of the network gained unauthorised access to overseas business email accounts and redirected legitimate payments into bank accounts they controlled in the United States.

“Victims believed they were sending money to legitimate businesses, but Mba and others instead funnelled the funds to accounts they controlled,” the statement noted.

Authorities told the court that Mba functioned as a money mule, opening new bank accounts or using existing ones to receive and transfer illicit proceeds. The total losses attributed to the scheme exceeded $4m.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei described the crimes as especially reprehensible, highlighting the emotional toll on victims of romance fraud.

“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 also denounced the scheme. Federal Bureau of Investigation Houston Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson said the perpetrators exploited victims’ emotions for financial gain.

“Romance scams cruelly manipulate trust, exploit the fear of loneliness and leave victims both financially devastated and emotionally shattered,” Hudson said, adding that the agency would continue to pursue fraudsters.

Investigators further disclosed that Mba tried to obtain U.S. permanent residency through multiple sham marriages after his initial application was rejected and he was ordered removed from the country.

Four other Houston residents — Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith and Alexandra Golovko — had earlier pleaded guilty in connection with the case. Morisho, Kadikilo and Smith received prison terms ranging from 15 to 25 months, while Golovko was sentenced to five years’ probation.

Mba remains in custody pending transfer to a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.