Nigerian Sentenced to 19 Years for $4M Fraud Scheme

Lesli Chinedu Mba, a 40-year-old Nigerian, was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge David Hittner for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that resulted in over $4 million in losses.

Mba, alongside co-conspirators, executed a business email compromise and romance scam from April 2018 to December 2023, targeting unsuspecting victims who believed they were transferring funds for legitimate business purposes. The scheme involved unauthorized access to business email accounts to redirect payments into accounts controlled by Mba and others, who acted as money mules.

Mba previously denied residency and attempted to secure legal status through multiple sham marriages. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit false statements in immigration documents, with sentencing scheduled for December 4, 2025.

Following his prison term, Mba is expected to face deportation proceedings. His case is part of a broader crackdown on Nigerian nationals involved in various crimes in the U.S.