Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria, was arrested upon his arrival at a Texas airport in the United States.
He faces serious allegations of masterminding a multi-million-dollar romance scam that reportedly targeted numerous victims.
The investigation suggests that Nwadialo may have used various online platforms to deceive individuals, leading to financial losses for those involved.
The 40-year-old Nwadialo was indicted last December by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington on 14 counts of wire fraud, with accusations of defrauding victims out of over $3.3 million.
U.S. authorities allege Nwadialo posed as a romantic partner, often using the alias “Giovanni” on dating sites like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café, pretending to be a U.S. military member stationed abroad to avoid meeting victims in person.
According to U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman, he used various tactics to obtain funds from unsuspecting victims, including claims of military-related fines, personal emergencies, and financial investments.
“One victim was defrauded in 2020 when he claimed he needed $500,000 to pay off a military fine, while another transferred $330,000 after he convinced her he needed assistance moving funds linked to his father’s estate,” Gorman stated.
Other victims were reportedly convinced to “invest” in cryptocurrency accounts controlled by Nwadialo or to assist with fictitious family emergencies, including covering his son’s tuition or father’s funeral costs.
Gorman commended investigators for their efforts in apprehending Nwadialo, noting the difficulty of prosecuting international romance scam suspects. She highlighted that “these defendants are often overseas and unreachable by U.S. law enforcement,” making this arrest a significant step.
Nwadialo now faces arraignment in Washington, where he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The FBI has been involved in the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Jiang is leading the prosecution.
“The charges are allegations, and under U.S. law, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” Gorman emphasized in her statement.