Nigerian Local Government Official Jailed in US for $3.5 Million Scam

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, the 42-year-old chairperson of the Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a U.S. District Court in Tacoma. The sentence follows his conviction on 14 counts of wire fraud related to a romance scam that defrauded eight victims of more than $3.5 million.

According to court documents, Nwadialo spent approximately 15 years manipulating victims through online dating platforms such as Zoosk, Match, and Christian Café. He used various versions of the name "Giovanni" and stolen images to create fake identities. To avoid meeting victims in person, he frequently claimed to be a military officer deployed overseas.

Prosecutors stated that Nwadialo specifically targeted older individuals, many of whom were divorced or widowed. He gained their trust before fabricating financial emergencies to solicit money. In one instance, he convinced a victim to pay a $150,000 military fine for revealing his location, ultimately defrauding that individual of at least $2.4 million.

Other deceptive tactics included claiming he needed funds for his son's tuition, his father's funeral expenses, or investment opportunities. One victim reportedly lost her home and life savings after liquidating assets to send money to the scammer, while another remained in a fraudulent relationship for three years before an FBI investigation revealed the truth.

U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the crimes as "devastating," noting that the scheme caused significant emotional harm, including depression, shame, and isolation for the victims. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd added that Nwadialo even claimed to run a non-profit for autistic children to gain trust.

Nwadialo was indicted in December 2023 and was subsequently arrested by the FBI on November 2, 2024, upon his arrival at a Texas airport. His arrest occurred one month after he had been sworn in as the chairperson of the Ogbaru Local Government Area. Following his prison term, Nwadialo is expected to undergo immigration proceedings.