Nigerian Man Sentenced to 19 Years for $4M Fraud

Lesli Mba, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to 19 years in U.S. federal prison by U.S. District Judge David Hittner for his involvement in a $4 million romance scam and business email compromise scheme.

Mba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents. The sentencing, announced by the U.S.

Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, revealed that Mba and his accomplices operated a transnational fraud ring targeting individuals and businesses through online romance scams and compromised business email accounts. They gained unauthorized access to corporate email accounts overseas, diverting legitimate business payments to U.S.-based bank accounts controlled by the fraud network.

Mba acted as a money mule, opening U.S. bank accounts to receive transfers of fraudulent proceeds. The total loss from the scheme exceeded $4 million.

Mba also attempted to obtain U.S. permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages. He is expected to face deportation upon completing his prison sentence.