A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, to 19 years (228 months) imprisonment for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar romance and business email fraud scheme.
The sentence was handed down by David Hittner after Mba pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents.
According to prosecutors, between April 2018 and December 2023, Mba and his co-conspirators operated a transnational fraud network that defrauded victims of more than $4 million. The scheme involved romance scams where victims were deceived into sending money after being manipulated through online relationships as well as Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks, in which legitimate corporate email accounts were compromised to redirect company funds into accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Authorities described the crimes as particularly harmful, noting that romance scams often target vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, exploiting trust and emotional connection for financial gain.
Following the completion of his prison term, Mba who is not a U.S. citizen is expected to face deportation proceedings.
The conviction underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to clamp down on cross-border cybercrime and financial fraud, as law enforcement agencies intensify collaboration to dismantle international scam networks.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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