Nigerian National Receives 19-Year Prison Sentence in US for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme
A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Leslie Chinedu Mba, who was residing illegally in Houston, Texas, has been sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison for his central role in a sophisticated romance scam and business email compromise operation that defrauded victims of over $4 million.
Sentencing and Legal Proceedings
U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Mba to serve 228 months in federal prison, which translates to 19 years. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei through a Department of Justice press statement issued on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Mba had previously pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit false statements in immigration documents.
As Mba is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the completion of his imprisonment. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined in the near future.
Nature of the Fraudulent Schemes
The criminal activities spanned from April 2018 to December 2023, involving Mba and co-conspirators both inside and outside the United States. The schemes operated on two primary fronts:
- Business Email Compromise: Co-conspirators gained unauthorized access to business email accounts and redirected legitimate payments to fraudulent bank accounts controlled by the group. Victims believed they were sending money to authentic businesses.
- Romance Scams: The group deliberately targeted vulnerable and elderly Americans through online romance schemes, manipulating emotional trust and exploiting fears of loneliness to extract funds.
FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson emphasized the particularly disturbing nature of the romance scams, stating: "Romance scams cruelly manipulate trust, callously exploit the fear of loneliness, and leave victims both financially devastated and emotionally shattered. The FBI will continue to combat fraudsters whose schemes leave a wake of misery behind."
Additional Immigration Fraud Attempts
Beyond the financial schemes, Mba attempted to obtain U.S. permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial immigration application was denied and he was ordered to be removed from the country. This additional layer of deception further complicated his legal situation and contributed to the severity of his sentence.
Co-Conspirators and Their Sentences
Four other individuals had previously pleaded guilty for their involvement in the scheme:
- Grace Morisho, 30, of Houston
- Rodgers Kadikilo, 30, of Houston
- Kristin Smith, 38, of Houston
- Alexandra Golovko, 36, of Houston
Morisho, Kadikilo, and Smith received sentences ranging between 15 to 25 months in prison, while Golovko received five years of probation. These individuals acted as money mules, opening or using existing bank accounts to collect and move proceeds from the fraud.
Investigation and Prosecution
The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Alum handled the prosecution of the case. The collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement agencies was crucial in unraveling the complex network of fraud that spanned several years and involved multiple participants.
The total financial loss from the schemes amounted to $4 million, representing significant harm to numerous victims who were deceived through both business and personal channels. The case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating increasingly sophisticated international fraud operations that exploit both technological vulnerabilities and human emotions.
