A 40-year-old Nigerian living in the United States, Leslie Mba, is facing a long prison sentence after admitting to his role in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.
According to a report by MyTexasDaily.com, seen by Punch News on Monday 8 December, 2025, Mba pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and making false statements in immigration documents.
The report stated that Mba lived illegally in Houston and worked with other suspects to run business email compromise scams between 2018 and 2023. During this period, victims were deceived into sending money to fake accounts, leading to a total loss of about $4 million.
Authorities also said Mba tried to secure permanent residency in the U.S. through fraudulent marriages after he had previously been ordered to leave the country. Four other Houston residents linked to the crime — Grace Morisho, Rodgers Kadikilo, Kristin Smith, and Alexandra Golovko — have also pleaded guilty.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office explained that Mba could receive up to 20 years in prison for the fraud charge and another five years for the false immigration statements. A U.S. District Judge has scheduled his sentencing for February 26, 2026, and he will remain in custody until then.
This update comes shortly after another Nigerian, Cashmir Chinedu Luke, CEO of a U.S. home care company, was arrested for allegedly defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs of over $7 million.
The case is still ongoing, and further updates are expected as sentencing approaches.
The matter remains under review by U.S. authorities as legal proceedings continue.
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