Nigerian jailed five years in US over $3.5m romance scam

A Nigerian national, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has received a five-year prison sentence in the United States for orchestrating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.5 million. The 42-year-old was sentenced by a U.S. District Court in Tacoma after being convicted of 14 counts of wire fraud related to a long-running online fraud scheme.

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The offense had devastating consequences for the victims, extending beyond financial losses to emotional and psychological harm.

Nwadialo was apprehended at a Texas airport upon his arrival in the U.S. in 2024. For about 15 years, he systematically deceived victims by establishing fake online personas and posing as a romantic partner. Prosecutors stated that he frequently targeted older individuals, particularly widows and divorcees, manipulating them into sending money under various false pretenses. The scheme involved fabricated stories, including claims of military fines, funeral expenses for a father, school fees for a son, or lucrative investment opportunities.

U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright emphasized the profound impact of Nwadialo's actions, describing the crime as "devastating." The judge noted that the consequences extended far beyond financial losses, causing victims significant emotional and psychological harm, including shame, depression, and isolation from their families. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd commented that the defendant preyed on individuals already experiencing grief and emotional hardship, upending the lives of people he never met.

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It was not an exaggeration to say it ruined lives not only financial lives but also caused victims shame, depression, and isolation from their own family.

Court records indicate that Nwadialo used variations of the name "Giovanni" on dating platforms such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. He employed stolen images and false personal information, often explaining his inability to meet victims in person by claiming to be a military officer deployed overseas. The FBI highlighted that Nwadialo systematically built trust with his victims before exploiting them financially, preying on vulnerable individuals seeking relationships online.

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This defendant preyed on those already suffering from the loss of loved ones or other heartbreak. For some 15 years he upended the lives of people he never met.