馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Nigerian man sentenced to five years in US for $3.5 million romance scam
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a Nigerian man, has been sentenced to five years in prison in the United States for a romance scam that defrauded multiple victims of over $3.5 million. The 42-year-old was sentenced by a U.S. District Court in Tacoma after being convicted in connection with an online fraud scheme targeting vulnerable individuals through dating websites. Nwadialo was arrested in 2024 upon arriving in the United States and indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted the devastating consequences for victims, extending beyond financial losses to emotional and psychological harm. The U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office stated Nwadialo spent about 15 years deceiving victims by creating fake online identities and posing as a romantic partner, often targeting older individuals, particularly widows and divorcees. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd commented that the defendant exploited people already dealing with grief and emotional hardship. Court records indicate Nwadialo used variations of the name "Giovanni" on dating platforms like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Caf茅, employing stolen images and false personal information, often claiming to be a military officer deployed overseas. He fabricated stories to obtain money, including claims of military fines, his father鈥檚 death, funeral expenses, his son鈥檚 school fees, or investment opportunities. The FBI stated Nwadialo systematically built trust with victims before exploiting them
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