A United States District Court in Texas has sentenced a Nigerian national, Leslie Mba, to 19 years in federal prison for his role in a sprawling romance fraud and business email compromise operation that prosecutors say defrauded victims of about $4 million.
Mba, 40, who is not a U.S. citizen, was handed a 228-month jail term by Judge David Hittner of the U.S. District Court. He is also expected to face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.
The ruling was disclosed in a statement by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas on Monday.
According to prosecutors, Mba participated in the scheme between April 2018 and December 2023, working with members of an international fraud network that targeted individuals and businesses through online romance scams and compromised corporate email accounts.
Investigators said the syndicate infiltrated company email systems, intercepted legitimate financial correspondence and diverted payments intended for genuine vendors into bank accounts controlled by the conspirators in the United States.
Victims, believing they were settling authentic invoices, unknowingly transferred funds that were rerouted to accounts linked to Mba and his associates. Authorities described Mba as a key facilitator who opened and operated bank accounts used to receive and move illicit proceeds, effectively serving as a conduit for the stolen funds.
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Total losses from the scheme exceeded $4 million.
Mba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents.
Prosecutors further revealed that after an initial immigration application was denied and he was ordered to leave the U.S., Mba allegedly sought to secure permanent residency through multiple sham marriages.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei condemned the crimes, describing romance scams as particularly exploitative.
“Romance scams are among the most reprehensible forms of fraud because they prey on the lonely and vulnerable, particularly elderly victims,” Ganjei said.
He added that beyond the lengthy prison term, Mba now faces removal from the United States.
Also reacting, Jason Hudson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Houston Field Office, said romance scams are designed to manipulate trust and inflict deep emotional and financial harm.
He assured that law enforcement agencies would continue to pursue those involved in such schemes.
Four other Houston-based defendants — Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith and Alexandra Golovko — had earlier admitted their involvement.
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 and will be transferred to a federal correctional facility designated by the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence.
