Nigerian sentenced to 19 years in US fraud case, set for deportation
On February 26, 2026, Leslie Chinedu Mba, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to 19 years (228 months) in federal prison for orchestrating a $4 million fraud scheme.
Mr Mba, a 40-year-old Nigerian citizen who illegally resided in Houston, pleaded guilty to his role in a business email compromise conspiracy and for running a romance scam that targeted victims nationwide.
Mba was a primary coordinator for elaborate romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) schemes that targeted vulnerable individuals and family-run businesses between 2018 and 2023.
While residing in Houston illegally, Mba attempted to gain lawful residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after a previous removal order was issued against him.
Deportation: As he is not a U.S. citizen, Mba faces federal deportation proceedings to Nigeria immediately upon the completion of his prison sentence.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge David Hittner in the Southern District of Texas. Four co-defendants also received sentences ranging from probation to 25 months in prison for their roles as money mules.

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