US-based Nigerian jailed 19 years over $4m romance, fraud

A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Leslie Mba, has received a sentence of 19 years in a federal prison in the United States due to his involvement in a $4 million romance scam and a business email compromise scheme.

Mba, who is not a citizen of the U.S., is also anticipated to undergo deportation proceedings following the completion of his prison sentence.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who mandated that Mba serve 228 months in prison after he entered a guilty plea for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements in immigration documents.

The conviction was made public in a statement released on Monday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Prosecutors indicated that from April 2018 to December 2023, Mba and his associates ran a transnational fraud operation that targeted both individuals and businesses through romance scams and compromised business email accounts.

Investigators reported that members of the syndicate initially gained unauthorized access to business email accounts located overseas and redirected legitimate payments into bank accounts that were under their control in the United States.

"Victims believed they were sending money to legitimate businesses, but Mba and others instead funneled the funds to accounts they controlled," the statement highlighted.

Prosecutors stated that Mba served as a money mule, either opening new bank accounts or utilizing existing ones to receive and transfer the proceeds of the fraud. The court was informed that the scheme led to losses exceeding $4 million.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei characterized the crimes as particularly troubling, especially the romance scams that targeted vulnerable 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.

“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.

FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge, Jason Hudson, also condemned the scheme, saying the suspects weaponised romance scams to manipulate and financially devastate their victims.

“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 revealed that Mba attempted to secure U.S. permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied and he was ordered removed from the country.

Four additional residents of Houston — Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith, and Alexandra Golovko — had previously entered guilty pleas related to the case. Morisho, Kadikilo, and Smith were sentenced to imprisonment terms ranging from 15 to 25 months, whereas Golovko was sentenced to five years of probation.

Mba continues to be held in custody while awaiting transfer to a facility that will be assigned by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.