US-Based Nigerian Faces Deportation After 19 Years’ Jail Term
- Feb 27
- 1 min read
A Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison in the United States over his involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud operation and immigration-related offences.
The ruling was delivered by a judge of the U.S. District Court in Houston, who also ordered that Mba be deported after completing his sentence, as he is not an American citizen.
According to prosecutors, the 40-year-old participated in a coordinated scheme that ran from 2018 to 2023, targeting victims through business email compromise and romance scams. Investigators said accomplices gained unauthorised access to corporate email accounts and diverted legitimate payments into bank accounts controlled by members of the network.
Victims were led to believe they were making genuine business transfers, but funds were instead redirected and withdrawn by the conspirators. Authorities estimated total losses from the operation at over $4 million.
Court filings further revealed that Mba attempted to secure lawful residency in the U.S. through fraudulent marriages involving elderly women after earlier immigration efforts failed.
He pleaded guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to falsify immigration documents. The court sentenced him to 228 months in prison.
Four other individuals linked to the scheme had earlier admitted guilt and received varying sentences, including short prison terms and probation.
Mba is expected to face removal proceedings upon completing his custodial sentence, in line with U.S. immigration laws.
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