A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Leslie Mba, has been sentenced to 19 years in a United States federal prison for his role in a sophisticated $4 million transnational fraud scheme involving romance scams and business email compromise operations.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who ordered Mba to serve 228 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents. Upon completion of his prison term, Mba, who is not a U.S. citizen, is expected to face deportation proceedings.
The conviction was announced in a statement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, which detailed the scale and duration of the fraudulent enterprise.
According to prosecutors, between April 2018 and December 2023, Mba and several accomplices operated a coordinated scheme targeting individuals and businesses both within and outside the United States. The criminal operation combined two common but highly damaging forms of cyber-enabled fraud: romance scams and business email compromise (BEC).
Investigators said members of the syndicate first gained unauthorised access to legitimate business email accounts overseas. Once inside, they monitored communications and intercepted payment instructions between companies and their clients. They then redirected legitimate business payments into bank accounts under their control in the United States.
“Victims believed they were sending money to legitimate businesses,” prosecutors stated, “but Mba and others instead funnelled the funds to accounts they controlled.”
In parallel with the email compromise scheme, the group also orchestrated romance scams — fraudulent online relationships designed to manipulate victims into sending money under false pretences. These scams often involved fabricating emotional connections, inventing emergencies, or promising financial returns to extract funds from unsuspecting individuals.
Court records show that Mba acted primarily as a “money mule,” opening new bank accounts or using existing ones to receive fraud proceeds and transfer them to other members of the network. His role was critical in laundering and redistributing the illicit funds, making it harder for authorities to trace the money trail.
The total losses attributed to the scheme exceeded $4 million, according to the prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei described the crimes as particularly egregious, highlighting the emotional and financial harm inflicted on victims.
“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. He added that Mba and his associates compounded their criminal conduct by attempting to deceive U.S. immigration authorities.
“Even worse, Mba and his confederates committed these crimes while attempting to remain in our country under false pretences by deceiving immigration authorities,” he said. “Now, Mba has prison to look forward to, followed by a one-way ticket back to Nigeria.”
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Houston Field Office. Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson condemned the manipulation tactics employed by the fraud ring.
“Romance scams cruelly manipulate trust, exploit the fear of loneliness and leave victims both financially devastated and emotionally shattered,” Hudson said. He emphasized that the FBI remains committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals who exploit digital platforms for financial crime.
Beyond the wire fraud charges, the case also revealed immigration-related misconduct. Prosecutors disclosed that Mba attempted to secure lawful permanent residency in the United States through multiple fraudulent marriages. His initial immigration application had been denied, and he had been ordered removed from the country. However, instead of complying with the order, he allegedly pursued sham marital arrangements in an effort to remain in the U.S.
The broader conspiracy involved several co-defendants based in Houston. Four individuals — Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith, and Alexandra Golovko — had previously pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme. Morisho, Kadikilo, and Smith received prison sentences ranging from 15 to 25 months. Golovko was sentenced to five years’ probation.
Federal authorities noted that the comparatively longer sentence imposed on Mba reflected both the magnitude of the financial losses and his extended participation in the conspiracy.
Mba remains in custody pending transfer to a federal correctional facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. After serving his 19-year sentence, he is expected to be transferred to immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
The case underscores the continued prevalence of romance scams and business email compromise schemes, which have collectively cost victims billions of dollars globally in recent years. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned the public to exercise caution in online relationships and to verify payment instructions received via email, particularly when large sums of money are involved.
For prosecutors, the lengthy sentence sends a clear message about the consequences of cross-border cyber fraud and immigration deception. For victims, it represents a measure of accountability in a crime that often leaves emotional scars long after financial losses are calculated.
