US COURT JAILS NIGERIAN FOR FIVE YEARS IN $3.5M ONLINE ROMANCE FRAUD

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By; Ganiyat Sunmola

A Nigerian national, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in the United States for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million.

According to a statement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the 42-year-old was sentenced by a federal court in Tacoma after being found guilty of participating in a long-running online fraud scheme that targeted unsuspecting individuals through dating platforms.

Authorities said Nwadialo was arrested at an airport in Texas after arriving in the United States in 2024. He was subsequently indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud connected to the scheme.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the impact of the crime as far-reaching, noting that the victims suffered not only financial losses but also significant emotional and psychological trauma.

The court heard that Nwadialo spent nearly 15 years posing as a romantic partner online, using fake identities to gain the trust of victims before manipulating them into sending money. Prosecutors said he primarily targeted older adults, including widows and divorcees.

Officials revealed that he operated under various aliases, including the name “Giovanni,” on dating websites such as Match, Zoosk and Christian Café. He allegedly used stolen photographs and fabricated personal details, often claiming to be a military officer stationed overseas to avoid meeting victims in person.

Investigators said he employed numerous false stories to solicit money, including claims that he needed funds to pay military fines, cover funeral expenses, settle family-related costs, support his son’s education or finance investment opportunities.

According to the FBI, the scheme involved carefully building emotional relationships with victims before exploiting them financially.

One victim reportedly remained in what she believed was a genuine online relationship with Nwadialo’s fictitious persona for three years before learning the truth through an FBI investigation.

Another victim, a widow, was said to have lost her home and life savings after selling assets to send money to the scammer and continues to face financial hardship as a result.

The FBI, which led the investigation, said the defendant stole millions of dollars from vulnerable individuals seeking companionship online.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.