Dalena Reporters l Friday, February 27, 2026
HOUSTON — A U.S. District Court in Texas on Friday sentenced Leslie Chinedu Mba, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, to 228 months (19 years) in federal prison for his role in a sophisticated romance scam and business email compromise scheme that defrauded unsuspecting victims out of more than $4 million USD. The ruling also stipulates that Mba will face deportation to Nigeria after completing his prison term.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, representing the Southern District of Texas, announced that Mr. Mba had earlier pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements on immigration documents. According to court filings, the convicted man and co-conspirators carried out the fraud between April 2018 and December 2023, exploiting both business email systems and personal relationships to siphon funds from victims nationwide.
Prosecutors told the court that the scheme began with business email compromise frauds, where criminals gained unauthorized access to legitimate corporate email accounts and manipulated communications to redirect legitimate payments into accounts controlled by Mba and others. Victims believed they were sending funds to real vendors or partners, but the money instead flowed into fraudulent accounts set up by the conspirators.
The romance scam component involved Mr. Mba and associates initiating feigned romantic relationships with targeted individuals often exploiting emotional trust to extract substantial sums under false pretenses. In addition to the fraud, Mba repeatedly attempted to obtain lawful permanent residency in the U.S. through sham marriages after an initial denial and removal order, actions that added to the severity of his legal situation.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge David Hittner emphasized the deliberate nature of the offenses and the wide financial and emotional impact on the victims, particularly given the manipulation of trust inherent in romance fraud schemes. The judge ordered that Mba remain in custody pending his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
Officials working on the case including the FBI Houston Division with assistance from the Houston Police Department praised the prosecution’s efforts, describing the romance and business email scams as “among the lowest and most despicable forms of fraud” due to their targeting of vulnerable populations and their exploitation of emotional connections.
Four co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty and received shorter federal sentences ranging from roughly 15 to 25 months, with one individual placed on probation. These outcomes reflect the varying degrees of involvement among defendants in the extensive scam network.
This sentence underscores the U.S. justice system’s resolve to address international fraud and immigration-related offenses involving financial deception, and it highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat cybercrime and protect potential victims from economic exploitation.