A Nigerian national living illegally in Houston has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a business email compromise conspiracy and a romance scam that targeted victims across the United States, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Leslie Chinedu Mba, 40, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud and making false statements on immigration documents. Authorities say that between April 2018 and December 2023, Mba and others both inside and outside the country orchestrated schemes in which co-conspirators accessed business email accounts without authorization. They then redirected payments intended for legitimate businesses into fraudulent bank accounts under their control.
Victims were misled into believing they were sending money for legitimate transactions, but the funds were instead collected by Mba and others acting as money mules. These individuals opened or used existing bank accounts to move proceeds from the fraud.
The total loss from these activities amounted to $4 million. In addition to financial crimes, Mba attempted to obtain permanent residency in the United States through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied and he was ordered removed from the country.
“These online scams that Mba and others perpetrated jeopardized the livelihood of family-run businesses, the ability of elderly individuals to retire, and exploited the trust on which our economy is based,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas remains committed to holding such fraudsters accountable, and protecting our people and companies from financial harm, especially when these scammers remain in our country under false pretenses and deceive immigration authorities.”
Four other Houston residents—Grace Morisho, 30; Rodgers Kadikilo, 29; Kristin Smith, 37; and Alexandra Golovko, 35—previously pleaded guilty to related charges.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted Mba’s plea. Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2026. At sentencing, Mba faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five years for making false statements on immigration documents as well as a possible fine of up to $250,000.
Mba will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing.
The FBI investigated this case with help from the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen M. Lansden and Alexander Alum are prosecuting.
