By By Elizabeth Ugbo
A United States District Court in Tacoma has sentenced Nigerian national Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, 42, to five years in prison for running a romance scam that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million. The court delivered the sentence in Washington after prosecutors proved that Nwadialo used fake identities on dating websites for about 15 years to deceive vulnerable individuals and steal their money.
FBI Investigation Leads to Conviction
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington announced the sentence on Tuesday. Authorities arrested Nwadialo at a Texas airport in 2024 when he arrived in the United States.
Subsequently, a federal grand jury indicted him on 14 counts of wire fraud linked to the long-running scheme.
The FBI investigated the case, while Assistant United States Attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin handled the prosecution.
How the Romance Scam Operated
According to court records, Nwadialo used several versions of the name “Giovanni” on dating platforms, including Match, Zoosk and Christian Café.
He also used stolen photographs and fake personal details to gain victims’ trust. In many cases, he claimed he was a military officer deployed overseas. This story helped him explain why he could not meet victims in person.
After building emotional relationships, he requested money through different fabricated stories.
For example, he told some victims that the military fined him $150,000 for revealing his location. He then asked them for financial assistance.
In other cases, he claimed he needed money for his father’s funeral, his son’s school fees, investment opportunities or other personal emergencies.
Victims Suffered Financial and Emotional Losses
Investigators said Nwadialo systematically targeted older individuals, especially widows and divorcees.
One victim believed she was in a genuine relationship with Nwadialo’s online persona for three years. However, an FBI investigation later revealed the deception.
Another victim, a widow, lost her home and life savings after selling assets to send him money. She continues to face financial hardship because of the losses.
Judge Condemns Devastating Impact of the Fraud
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the crime as devastating.
She said the scheme destroyed more than victims’ finances. According to the judge, the fraud also caused shame, depression and isolation from family members.
Officials React to the Sentence
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said Nwadialo deliberately exploited people who were already dealing with grief and emotional pain.
“This defendant preyed on those already suffering from the loss of loved ones or other heartbreak. For some 15 years, he upended the lives of people he never met,” Floyd said.
Similarly, FBI Seattle Field Office Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Harrington said Nwadialo stole millions from people searching for genuine relationships online.
“For years, Mr. Nwadialo preyed on vulnerable victims looking for relationships online, gained their trust, and told them lies to steal their life savings totaling millions of dollars,” Harrington said.
Long-Term Deception Ends in Prison Sentence
Prosecutors said Nwadialo spent about 15 years creating fake online identities and posing as a romantic partner to deceive victims.
As a result, the court imposed a five-year prison sentence, bringing an end to one of the most damaging romance fraud schemes uncovered by US authorities in recent years.
