A 40-year-old Nigerian, Leslie Mba, has been sentenced to 19 years in a United States federal prison for his role in a $4m romance scam and business email compromise scheme.

Mba, who is not a U.S. citizen, is also expected to face deportation proceedings upon completion of his prison term.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who ordered Mba to serve 228 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents.

The conviction was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

According to prosecutors, between April 2018 and December 2023, Mba and his accomplices operated a transnational fraud scheme that targeted individuals and businesses through romance scams and compromised business email accounts.

Investigators said members of the syndicate initially gained unauthorised access to business email accounts overseas and diverted legitimate payments into bank accounts under their control in the United States.

“Victims believed they were sending money to legitimate businesses, but Mba and others instead funnelled the funds to accounts they controlled,” the statement noted.

Prosecutors said Mba acted as a money mule, opening or using existing bank accounts to receive and transfer fraudulent proceeds. The court heard that the scheme resulted in losses exceeding $4m.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei described the crimes as particularly disturbing, especially the romance scams that preyed on vulnerable victims.

“Romance scams are among the lowest and most despicable forms of fraud because they prey upon the lonely and vulnerable, and disproportionately victimise senior citizens,” Ganjei said.

“Even worse, Mba and his confederates committed these crimes while attempting to remain in our country under false pretences by deceiving immigration authorities. Now, Mba has prison to look forward to, followed by a one-way ticket back to Nigeria,” he added.

FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge, Jason Hudson, also condemned the scheme, saying the suspects weaponised romance scams to manipulate and financially devastate their victims.

“Romance scams cruelly manipulate trust, exploit the fear of loneliness and leave victims both financially devastated and emotionally shattered,” Hudson said, adding that the agency would continue to pursue fraudsters.

Investigators further revealed that Mba attempted to secure U.S. permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied and he was ordered removed from the country.

Four other Houston residents — Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith and Alexandra Golovko — had earlier pleaded guilty in connection with the case. Morisho, Kadikilo and Smith were sentenced to between 15 and 25 months’ imprisonment, while Golovko received five years’ probation.

Mba remains in custody pending transfer to a facility to be designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. (The PUNCH)