By Ayodele Oni
For running an online fraud scheme which targeted the vulnerable close to 15 years, a United States, (US), Federal Court has sentenced Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, to five years imprisonment.
He was found guilty of his role in a romance fraud scheme that authorities said ripped victims of more than $3.5 million.
The sentence marks a dramatic fall for the Nigerian local government chairman, whose case drew attention on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the 42-year-old was convicted for operating a long-running online fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable people through dating websites.
Prosecutors said Nwadialo used fake identities and false stories to build trust with victims before persuading them to send large sums of money.
The court heard that Nwadialo spent nearly 15 years posing as a romantic partner on platforms including Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café.
Using aliases such as “Giovanni,” he allegedly claimed to be a military officer serving overseas and relied on stolen photographs to support his false identity.
Authorities said he requested money for fabricated military penalties, family emergencies, funeral expenses, school fees, and investment opportunities.
During sentencing in Tacoma, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the scheme as deeply damaging, noting that victims suffered serious financial, emotional, and psychological harm.
Investigators revealed that several victims lost their life savings, while one widow reportedly sold assets and eventually lost her home after sending money to the fraudster.
Another victim believed she was in a genuine relationship with him for three years before learning the truth through an FBI investigation.
Federal prosecutors also accused Nwadialo of deliberately targeting older and vulnerable individuals, including widows and divorcees seeking companionship online.
The FBI, which led the investigation, stated that the scheme demonstrated how fraudsters exploit trust and emotional connections for financial gain.
The case was prosecuted by federal attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.
Nwadialo was arrested in Texas in 2024 after arriving in the United States and was later charged with 14 counts of wire fraud.
His conviction and sentencing bring to a close a case that authorities say caused devastating losses to multiple victims, while also highlighting the growing global effort to combat online romance scams and other forms of cyber-enabled fraud.
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