By

Arinze Izik

A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian politician Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo to five years in prison for orchestrating a long-running online romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of over $3.5 million.

Nwadialo, 42, who is Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, was sentenced by US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright in Tacoma, Washington, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice.

In delivering judgment, the judge described the fraudulent scheme as “devastating,” noting that aside from the financial losses suffered by victims, the scheme caused emotional harm, including depression, shame and isolation from family members.

First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the convict and his accomplices targeted emotionally vulnerable people, especially those dealing with heartbreak, divorce or the loss of loved ones.

According to prosecutors, Nwadialo used fake identities on dating platforms such as Match, Zoosk and Christian Café, often impersonating a military officer named “Giovanni”.

Through the fake personas, he allegedly manipulated victims into sending money under false pretenses, including fake military penalties, funeral costs, emergencies and fraudulent investment opportunities.

Prosecutors stated that many of the victims were elderly, widowed or divorced individuals who believed they were in real romantic relationships.

One victim reportedly had an online relationship with the fake identity for three years before discovering through the FBI that the entire relationship was fake.

Another victim, described as a widow looking for companionship after her husband’s death, allegedly lost her home and life savings after selling assets to send money to the suspect.

Federal authorities said the fraud scheme ran for more than 15 years and caused serious financial and emotional harm to several victims.

FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Harrington said Nwadialo exploited vulnerable people seeking companionship online and tricked them into giving up their life savings.

The Nigerian politician was arrested in 2024 at an airport in Texas shortly after arriving in the United States and was later charged on 14 counts of wire fraud.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.