HOUSTON, Texas — A 40-year-old man residing illegally in Houston has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a romance scam and business email compromise scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Leslie Chinedu Mba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit false statements in immigration documents on December 4, 2025. U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Mba to serve 228 months in federal prison. As Mba is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. The court heard that victims were defrauded of over $4 million.
“Romance scams are among the lowest and most despicable form of fraud because they prey upon the lonely and vulnerable, and disproportionately victimize senior citizens,” said Ganjei. “These online scams Mba and his friends perpetrated jeopardized the livelihood of family-run businesses, the ability of elderly individuals to retire, and exploited the trust that fuels our economy. Even worse, Mba and his confederates committed these crimes while attempting to remain in our country under false pretenses by deceiving immigration authorities. Now, Mba has prison to look forward to, followed by a one-way ticket back to Nigeria.”…