A federal district court in Minnesota has denied bail to Ijeoma Mbonu Chanthavong, a Nigerian national convicted of international money laundering, clearing the path for her continued detention and imminent deportation to Nigeria as part of heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Mbonu, who entered the United States in 2017 on a B-2 visa, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Court records show she served as a key liaison in schemes involving Nigerian internet fraudsters, commonly known as "Yahoo Boys." She facilitated the transfer of illicit funds obtained through romance scams and business email compromise attacks by receiving money into her U.S. bank account and forwarding it to accounts in Nigeria.
Following her guilty plea, Mbonu agreed in October 2022 to provide substantial assistance to U.S. authorities in related investigations, which reportedly placed her at risk of retaliation from those involved in the fraud networks if returned to Nigeria. Her employment authorization was approved in June 2024, allowing her temporary legal work status.
However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) re-arrested her on December 4, 2025, and issued a Final Administrative Order of Removal on December 22, 2025, classifying her conviction as an aggravated felony that renders her deportable. She filed a habeas corpus petition on December 29, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for Minnesota, arguing her detention was unlawful and citing pending immigration matters and threats to her safety in Nigeria.
On January 13, 2026, Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan denied her petition for a writ of habeas corpus and rejected her bail application. The ruling confirmed that due to her prior conviction, she was subject to mandatory detention and not entitled to a bond hearing. The court dismissed the action without prejudice, stating in part: “It is hereby ordered that Ijeoma C.’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied; and this action is dismissed without prejudice.”
Court filings noted her awareness of immigration consequences from her 2022 plea agreement: “The defendant understands that pleading guilty may have consequences with respect to her immigration status, including removal or deportation.” Respondents emphasized her aggravated felony conviction as grounds for mandatory detention.
Mbonu has sued U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and other ICE and DHS officials in connection with her case. She remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
This case underscores the strict enforcement priorities of the current administration regarding non-citizens with criminal convictions, particularly in financial crimes linked to international fraud. It also highlights the challenges faced by individuals who cooperated with U.S. law enforcement but still face removal due to mandatory immigration penalties.
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