A Nigerian politician and chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been sentenced to five years in prison in the United States for orchestrating an online romance fraud scheme that defrauded eight victims of approximately $3.5 million.
Nwadialo, 42, was sentenced on Monday by the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, following his conviction on multiple counts of wire fraud linked to a long-running romance scam operation.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the United States Department of Justice, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced the sentencing, describing the scheme as one that targeted vulnerable individuals seeking relationships online.
The Nigerian politician was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at a Texas airport in 2024 after arriving in the United States. His arrest came despite his election as chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area on September 28, 2024.
Court records show that Nwadialo was indicted in December 2023 on 14 counts of wire fraud related to the fraudulent scheme, which prosecutors said spanned about 15 years.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the crime as “devastating,” noting that it caused severe financial and emotional harm to the victims.
“It is not an exaggeration to say it ruined lives—not only financial lives,” Cartwright said, citing the shame, depression and isolation suffered by victims as a result of the fraud.
Commenting on the sentencing, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said Nwadialo exploited individuals who were already dealing with personal loss and emotional hardship.
“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.
According to prosecutors, Nwadialo used elaborate false stories to gain the trust of victims and persuade them to part with large sums of money. In one instance, he allegedly claimed to operate a non-profit organisation that provided services for autistic children.
“No scheme was too low for these conspirators,” Floyd added.
Also reacting to the sentence, FBI Seattle Field Office Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Harrington said Nwadialo systematically targeted vulnerable individuals through online platforms.
“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.
He noted that although the suspect operated the scam from overseas, his eventual arrival in the United States enabled authorities to apprehend and prosecute him.
“Fortunately, although he operated his romance scams from overseas, Mr. Nwadialo ultimately traveled to the United States where he could be arrested and held accountable for his crimes here in the Western District of Washington,” Harrington said.
The sentencing brings to a close a major international fraud case that U.S. authorities say left multiple victims financially and emotionally devastated.
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