A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, has been sentenced to 19 years in a United States federal prison for his involvement in a $4 million romance scam and business email compromise (BEC) scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals and small businesses.
The conviction was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas. According to the statement, Mba pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents.
Sentencing
He was sentenced by David Hittner, a US District Judge, to 228 months (19 years) in federal prison. Prosecutors confirmed that Mba is not a US citizen and is expected to face removal proceedings after completing his sentence.
During sentencing, the court heard that victims were defrauded of more than $4 million between April 2018 and December 2023. Authorities said the scheme involved co-conspirators operating both within and outside the United States.
US Attorney Nicholas Ganjei described romance scams as “among the lowest and most despicable forms of fraud,” noting that they disproportionately target lonely and elderly individuals. He stated that the scheme jeopardized the livelihood of family-run businesses and exploited the trust that underpins commercial transactions.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with comments from Jason Hudson, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Houston. Hudson said the deliberate targeting of vulnerable and elderly Americans through romance scams was particularly disturbing, adding that such schemes leave victims financially devastated and emotionally shattered.
Details of Crime
Prosecutors detailed how the scheme began overseas, where co-conspirators allegedly gained unauthorized access to business email accounts and redirected legitimate payments into fraudulent bank accounts controlled by the group. Victims believed they were paying legitimate vendors, but funds were instead diverted to accounts used by Mba and others.
Mba and his associates reportedly acted as money mules, opening or using existing bank accounts to collect and move proceeds from the fraud. Court documents further revealed that Mba attempted to obtain US permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after an earlier application was denied and he was ordered removed from the country.
Four other Houston residents Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith and Alexandra Golovko previously pleaded guilty in connection with the case. Morisho, Kadikilo and Smith received prison sentences ranging from 15 to 25 months, while Golovko was sentenced to five years’ probation.
Mba will remain in custody pending transfer to a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
