₦airaland Forum

Nigerian citizen who attempted to unlawfully obtain U.S. residency through fraudulent marriages sentenced in $4 million conspiracy

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old man who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a romance scam and business email compromise scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Leslie Chinedu Mba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit false statements in immigration documents Dec. 4, 2025.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Mba to serve 228 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard that victims were defrauded of over $4 million.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/nigerian-citizen-who-attempted-unlawfully-obtain-us-residency-through-fraudulent

A United States District Court has handed down a hefty 19-year prison sentence to Nigerian national Leslie Chinedu Mba for his involvement in a sophisticated $4 million fraud operation that combined romance scams, business email compromises, and attempts to secure U.S. residency through fake marriages. The 40-year-old, who had been living illegally in Houston, pleaded guilty last December and now faces deportation back to Nigeria once his term is served.

Mba's schemes, which ran from April 2018 to December 2023, preyed on vulnerable individuals and businesses, racking up losses exceeding $4 million. In the romance scams, fraudsters built fake relationships online to extract money from lonely victims, often seniors. The business email compromise involved hacking into company accounts to redirect legitimate payments to fraudulent ones controlled by Mba and his accomplices. Mba acted as a "money mule," using bank accounts to launder and move the stolen funds.

Adding another layer to his crimes, Mba tried multiple times to gain permanent U.S. residency through sham marriages, including to elderly women, after his initial immigration application was denied and he was ordered removed from the country. He pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements in immigration documents. U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced him to 228 months in federal prison on February 26, 2026, with Mba remaining in custody until transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

Mba didn't act alone. Four co-conspirators from Houston—Grace Morisho, 30; Rodgers Kadikilo, 30; Kristin Smith, 38; and Alexandra Golovko, 36—had already pleaded guilty to similar charges. Their sentences ranged from 15 to 25 months in prison for Morisho, Kadikilo, and Smith, while Golovko received five years of probation. The investigation was led by the FBI with help from the Houston Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei didn't mince words about the case: “Romance scams are among the lowest and most despicable form of fraud because they prey upon the lonely and vulnerable, and disproportionately victimize senior citizens. These online scams Mba and his friends perpetrated jeopardized the livelihood of family-run businesses, the ability of elderly individuals to retire, and exploited the trust that fuels our economy. Even worse, Mba and his confederates committed these crimes while attempting to remain in our country under false pretenses by deceiving immigration authorities. Now, Mba has prison to look forward to, followed by a one-way ticket back to Nigeria.”

Source: https://www.reportnaija.ng/2026/02/us-court-sentences-nigerian-leslie.html?m=1

Yahoo plús plus, do as I say

To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

This kind of news is very painful and embarrassing for us as Nigerians. What this man did is wrong and it has serious consequences, not just for him but for the image of our country.

The truth is, many Nigerians abroad are doing well, working hard and making us proud. But when things like this happen, it gives foreigners the wrong impression about all of us. That is why we must continue to speak against fraud and criminal activities clearly and boldly.

As a leader, I believe the real solution is not just condemnation. We must focus on empowering our youths, creating real opportunities, promoting digital skills the right way, and teaching strong values of integrity and accountability. When young people see genuine opportunities at home, they will not be tempted to take dangerous shortcuts.

This is part of the movement I am building — a movement that stands for integrity, empowerment, and responsible leadership.

I urge you all to support my move. Together, we can change the narrative and build a generation we will all be proud of.

Hon. Ogunfeyitimi Tope Joshua
The New Generation Voice

19 year?

He would spend his prime behind bar

Yahoo Yahoo skill?To continue his bad habits after deportation.

Flangelo12:
To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

Why put chain on his waist like that? Will they do same (chain on waist) if he were a Caucasian?

by the power invested in me, i hereby add additional 19yrs.

Flangelo12:
To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

His age will be closer to 60 cos he's already 40

Emeskhalifa:
Why put chain on his waist like that? Will they do same (chain on waist) if he were a Caucasian?

This may not be the actual guy in this story, the pic may have been added for illustration purposes

19 years? Omoh. Him kee person? Make him try give dem the money o.

Flangelo12:
To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

When your JagaBandeet returned to Nigeria after forfeiting $460,000 did he not beg his way to be Lagos governor instead of Engineer Funsho Williams, who was later murdered before Fashola continued Tinubu’s master plan?

When Obasanjo was released from Abacha’s prison bankrupt, did Atiku not help the alaimore to get back on his feet before he was made PDP presidential candidate?

So don’t stress about this rogue. He will join Oshiomhole’s Assembly of Past Criminals, APC and he will be fine.

How come Hushpuppi got a shorter sentence with a more serious case.

LESSLIE CHINEDU MBA Pleaded guilty to
. To think this man is from my Local Government area.

Flangelo12.... get out

Noted.

Who knows, he might have preferred being in US prisons rather than in Nigeria and be suffering Tinubu’s harsh economy.

PACIONS:
This kind of news is very painful and embarrassing for us as Nigerians. What this man did is wrong and it has serious consequences, not just for him but for the image of our country.

The truth is, many Nigerians abroad are doing well, working hard and making us proud. But when things like this happen, it gives foreigners the wrong impression about all of us. That is why we must continue to speak against fraud and criminal activities clearly and boldly.

As a leader, I believe the real solution is not just condemnation. We must focus on empowering our youths, creating real opportunities, promoting digital skills the right way, and teaching strong values of integrity and accountability. When young people see genuine opportunities at home, they will not be tempted to take dangerous shortcuts.

This is part of the movement I am building — a movement that stands for integrity, empowerment, and responsible leadership.

I urge you all to support my move. Together, we can change the narrative and build a generation we will all be proud of.

Hon. Ogunfeyitimi Tope Joshua
The New Generation Voice

In the second pic why hanging of bag like a hunter?
In my place if u hung bag like that boys will think that u belong.

I like ur ambition.
Nice one

Make he just accept deportation, as he land naija make them free am abeg

This one no clear… 19 years on top fraud marriage?

Not supporting crime but we have seen that the most evil criminals are these white guts in Epstein files and are walking free

Flangelo12:
To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

No parole in the US Federal system.

He will have to do the whole 19ys.

At 4th commenter

ADP dead on arrival

Wakanda, it's not everything you must comment on. What he did deserves more than a chain around the waist. Instead of focusing on the crime, you're here fantasizing about the skin color. A Google search will tell you how prisoners are transported in the US, irrespective of their skin color

Emeskhalifa:
Why put chain on his waist like that? Will they do same (chain on waist) if he were a Caucasian?

Emeskhalifa:
Why put chain on his waist like that? Will they do same (chain on waist) if he were a Caucasian?

You have no respect for his victims.

Chinedu had put the Chain ⛓️‍💥 on the life of his victims by his fraudulent tricks already ‼️

19 years in prison? Did he kill someone? That's unfair bro... I'm a Yoruba man, despite the fact that the person involved is Igbo, 19 years is too much for a fraud case... Dude definitely had a bad lawyer.

Maybe the man no gree do deal with them or maybe he refused to give up his loot. Or evidence plenty for ground.

saasala:
How come Hushpuppi got a shorter sentence with a more serious case.

I agree with you. The other Yoruba man that did worse got a lesser sentence . Maybe he didn't have the opportunity to cut a deal with them in the midst of evidences...

wazobeer:
19 years in prison? Did he kill someone? That's unfair bro... I'm a Yoruba man, despite the fact that the person involved is Igbo, 19 years is too much for a fraud case... Dude definitely had a bad lawyer.

Arostar2023:
I agree with you. The other Yoruba man that did worse got a lesser sentence

Guy na you sabi. Don't know if you're tryna be sarcastic but this is is about a fellow Nigerian and while I don't support his crime, the term is too much please. They don't dish out prison terms to white people like this.

Even if there's a cash somewhere, with the status that he's going to come out with after serving the sentence. He wouldn't be able to pick up anything . Even within few months of going to jail, his property or whatever he has would be taken over by the government since there are victims that he has robbed through the romance scam. Everything would be auctioned if there's anything tangible and the proceed would deposited at the Treasury or with FBI special victims account. ...

Flangelo12:
To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

NIGERIANS Must Avoid All this Nonexistent ---Marriage -Scams to get Americans and Other South Americans FALSELY hooked up.
-Same with COVID - Loan Scheme Refunds.
America System will Surely Find the Fake People because It Is A STRUCTURED SYSTEM!

Talk about American double standards

If in a personal transaction I defraud U, it's a civil matter.
But if a black man defrauds an American, it's a criminal case 😡

Flangelo12:
To be returned after serving years in prison

Closer to to 50.

Probsbly no assets or cash or skill.

he'll come back with a fluent American accent... That's a skill bro