Fraud: Nigerians face 43 years imprisonment in US

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Two Nigerians, Leslie Mba and Godson Oghenebrume, are facing up to 43 years in prison after they pleaded guilty to separate crimes before the United States’ courts.

Mba, a 40-year-old resident of Houston, pleaded guilty to his role in a business email compromise conspiracy and for running a romance scam that targeted Americans.

According to a statement by the Department of Justice on Thursday, Mba also admitted to his role in conspiracies to commit wire fraud and false statements in immigration documents.

A US Attorney, Nicholas Ganjei, stated that the Nigerian and his accomplices scammed innocent people of $4m from April 2018 to December 2023.

“Mba and others acted as money mules, opening or using existing bank accounts to collect and move proceeds from the fraud,” the report said.

The 40-year-old tried to obtain US permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied and he was ordered to be removed from the country.

A district judge, David Hittner, accepted his plea and set sentencing for February 26, 2026. Mba will remain in custody pending that hearing.

“At that time, Mba faces up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five years for committing false statements on immigration documents, as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine,” it added.

Meanwhile, another DOJ statement on Wednesday disclosed that Oghenebrume, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before US Chief Judge Shelly Dick, to possession of a firearm.

“According to admissions made during his plea, on February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume possessed a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol, while he was admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant F-1 student visa,” the statement read in part.

The 22-year-old argued with his ex-girlfriend, who was also the mother of his infant child, when she found another woman in his residence.

According to the report, he discharged the gun during the heated argument, and multiple bullet strikes were observed in the walls of the apartment complex.

“Oghenebrume’s conviction is punishable by up to fifteen years’ imprisonment. He also faces a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. He may also be subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence,” the report added.

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