By Ola Kay
A Nigerian politician, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by a United States federal court for being the brain behind a prolonged online romance fraud that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million.
A statement released by the US Department of Justice. disclosed that 42-year-old Franklin Nwadialo, who is the Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria, was sentenced by US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright in Tacoma, Washington.
The judge who delivered judgement in the matter described the fraudulent operation by the convinction as “devastating.”
He emphasized that beyond the financial losses suffered by victims, the scheme caused emotional trauma, including depression, shame and isolation from family members.
According to the First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd, the convict and his associates targeted emotionally vulnerable individuals, particularly those dealing with heartbreak, divorce or the loss of loved ones.
Prosecutors said Nwadialo operated fake identities on dating platforms including Match, Zoosk and Christian Café, often posing as a military officer identified as “Giovanni”.
By using fake personas, Nwadialo allegedly manipulated victims into sending money under false pretences, which included fabricated military penalties, funeral expenses, emergencies and fraudulent investment benefits.
Prosecutors added that among those who fell victims were elderly, widowed or divorced individuals who had been made to believe they were in genuine romantic relationships.
For instance, one of the victims reportedly maintained an online relationship with the fake identity for three years before learning through the FBI that the entire relationship was fraudulent.
Another victim, described as a widow searching for companionship after her husband’s death, allegedly lost her home and life savings after liquidating assets to send money to the suspect.
The US Federal authorities said the fraud scheme operated for more than 15 years and caused severe financial and emotional damage to multiple victims.
FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Harrington said Nwadialo exploited vulnerable people seeking companionship online and deceived them into surrendering their life savings.
Reports say the Nigerian politician was arrested in 2024 at an airport in Texas shortly after arriving in the United States and was later indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud.
The fraud case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant US attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.
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