United States: a Nigerian sentenced to 19 years in prison for romance fraud.

A Nigerian national was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for his central role in an international fraud involving online scams and professional email hacking, causing nearly $4 million in losses.

Leslie Mba, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to 19 years of federal prison in the United States for his involvement in a large romance scam linked to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme, causing losses estimated at nearly $4 million. The 228-month sentence was handed down by a federal court in the Southern District of Texas. After he serves his sentence, he will face deportation proceedings.

Mba had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit electronic fraud as well as making false statements in immigration documents. According to the indictment, between 2018 and 2023, he participated in an international network targeting individuals and businesses through online romance scams and the hacking of business emails. The fraudsters intercepted legitimate transactions and diverted payments to accounts they controlled.

Mba notably played the role of the “financial mule,” opening and using bank accounts to receive and transfer the diverted funds. The investigation also revealed attempts to commit immigration fraud, including through fictitious marriages. Four accomplices were sentenced to lighter penalties.