A United States court has sentenced Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, to five years in prison for orchestrating an online romance scam that defrauded eight victims of more than $3.5 million.
Nwadialo, 42, was arrested by the FBI at a Texas airport upon arriving in the United States in 2024. He was later indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud linked to a scheme that operated for more than 15 years.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Nwadialo used fake online identities, often under the name “Giovanni,” on dating platforms including Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. He allegedly posed as a military officer deployed overseas and used various stories to persuade victims—many of them older, widowed, or divorced—to send him money.
At sentencing in Tacoma, Washington, U.S. District Judge Tiffany Cartwright described the crimes as “devastating,” saying they caused severe financial and emotional harm to victims.
Prosecutors said one victim remained in a fraudulent online relationship for three years, while another lost her home and life savings after believing she had found love following her husband’s death.
“This defendant preyed on those already suffering from the loss of loved ones or other heartbreak,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
The FBI, which investigated the case, said Nwadialo exploited vulnerable individuals seeking companionship, ultimately stealing millions through deception and manipulation.
