A Nigerian national, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in the United States for masterminding a romance scam that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the 42-year-old was sentenced by a U.S. District Court in Tacoma after being found guilty of operating a long-running online fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals through dating platforms.
Authorities said Nwadialo was arrested at a Texas airport upon his arrival in the United States in 2024. He was subsequently charged with 14 counts of wire fraud linked to the scam.
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the impact of the crime as far-reaching, noting that victims suffered not only financial losses but also significant emotional and psychological trauma.
She said the scheme had “ruined lives,” leaving victims with feelings of shame, depression and isolation from family members.
Prosecutors said Nwadialo spent approximately 15 years deceiving victims by creating fake online identities and posing as a romantic partner. He allegedly targeted older individuals, particularly widows and divorcees, manipulating them into sending money under false pretences.
Commenting on the case, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the convict exploited people already struggling with grief and emotional pain.
“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,” Floyd said.
Court records showed that Nwadialo used various aliases, including the name “Giovanni,” on dating websites such as Match, Zoosk and Christian Café. Investigators said he used stolen photographs and fabricated personal details, often claiming to be a military officer deployed overseas to justify his inability to meet victims in person.
Authorities said he employed multiple false narratives to obtain money, including claims that he had been fined by the military, needed funds for funeral expenses following his father’s death, required assistance with his son’s school fees, or sought investment capital.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the scheme relied on building trust with victims before exploiting them financially.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office, W. Mike Harrington, said Nwadialo spent years deceiving vulnerable people seeking genuine relationships online and stealing their life savings.
The prosecution told the court that many victims suffered lasting financial and emotional damage. One woman reportedly believed she was in a genuine relationship with Nwadialo’s online persona for three years before learning the truth through an FBI investigation.
Another victim, a widow, allegedly lost her home and life savings after selling assets to send money to the fraudster and continues to face financial hardship.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.
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