Anambra LG chairman jailed five years in US over $3.5m romance scam

A United States court has sentenced Nigerian politician Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo to five years imprisonment for orchestrating an online romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of approximately $3.5 million.

Nwadialo, who serves as Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at an airport in Texas after arriving in the United States in 2024.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Nwadialo was sentenced on Monday by Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright at a federal court in Tacoma, Washington.

The politician was indicted in December 2023 on 14 counts of wire fraud linked to a long-running romance scam operation.

Prosecutors said Nwadialo used fake online identities, often operating under the name “Giovanni,” to deceive victims through dating platforms including Match, Zoosk and Christian Café.

Investigators said he typically posed as a military officer deployed overseas and used fabricated stories to convince victims to send money.

Among the false claims attributed to him were requests for funds to pay a supposed military fine, cover funeral expenses for his father, settle his son’s school fees, and assist with fictional investment opportunities.

Authorities said the victims were mostly older, widowed or divorced individuals seeking companionship online.

In sentencing Nwadialo, Judge Cartwright described the crimes as “devastating,” noting that the damage extended beyond financial losses to emotional trauma, shame, depression and isolation suffered by victims.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the fraud lasted for more than 15 years and targeted vulnerable people who believed they had entered genuine romantic relationships.

The FBI also condemned the scheme, saying Nwadialo manipulated victims into handing over their life savings through lies and emotional deception.

Court records indicate that some victims lost homes, retirement savings and significant assets, while others continued to suffer financial consequences years after the fraud occurred.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted in the Western District of Washington.

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