The Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been sentenced to five years in a United States federal prison after being convicted for his involvement in a sophisticated online romance fraud scheme that defrauded multiple victims of more than $3.5 million.
The sentencing was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd following proceedings at the U.S. District Court.
Nwadialo, 42, was arrested in Texas in 2024 upon his arrival in the United States. His arrest followed a federal indictment issued in December 2023, which charged him with 14 counts of wire fraud connected to a long-running romance scam operation.
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the crimes as “devastating,” emphasizing that the victims suffered severe financial losses as well as significant emotional and psychological trauma.
According to the judge, the impact of the fraud extended far beyond money, leaving many victims battling shame, depression, and social isolation.
Prosecutors revealed that Nwadialo specifically targeted emotionally vulnerable individuals, including people grieving the loss of loved ones or dealing with personal hardships.
“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,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd stated.
“He spun tale after tale to gain the victims’ trust and their money—even claiming to run a non-profit providing services for autistic children. No scheme was too low for these conspirators.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the conviction sends a strong message that international online fraudsters can be held accountable regardless of where they operate.
According to investigators, Nwadialo used multiple fake identities, often adopting variations of the name “Giovanni” on dating platforms such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café.
Authorities said he typically posed as a military officer deployed overseas, a tactic he used to explain why he could not meet victims in person. Once trust was established, he allegedly fabricated emergencies and personal crises to convince victims to send money.
In one case, prosecutors said he persuaded a victim to transfer $150,000 after falsely claiming he had been fined by the military for disclosing his location.
Court records further revealed that he sought money under various pretenses, including his father’s funeral expenses, his son’s school fees, investment opportunities, and claims involving inheritance funds supposedly left behind by his late father.
Investigators said one woman remained in what she believed was a genuine romantic relationship with Nwadialo’s fake online persona for three years before discovering the deception through an FBI investigation.
Another victim, a widow searching for companionship after losing her husband, reportedly lost both her home and life savings after liquidating her assets to send money to the suspect.
Prosecutors told the court that several victims may never fully recover from the financial and emotional devastation caused by the scheme.
The case was investigated by the FBI, while Assistant United States Attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin led the prosecution.
Following the completion of his prison sentence, Nwadialo is expected to face immigration proceedings in line with U.S. laws.
The case serves as yet another warning about the dangers of online romance scams and the devastating consequences they can have on unsuspecting victims around the world.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice/Federal Court Records.
Romance scam 🙆🏾🙆🏾🤣🤣.
Nothing i no go hear from this oyibo ppl.