A Nigerian man, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been sentenced to five years in prison in the United States for masterminding a romance scam that defrauded multiple victims of more than $3.5 million.
The sentence was handed down by a US District Court in Tacoma, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Nwadialo, 42, was convicted for his role in a long-running online fraud operation that targeted vulnerable individuals through dating websites. Authorities said he was arrested in Texas in 2024 upon arriving in the United States and was subsequently indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud.
At the sentencing hearing, US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright emphasised the far-reaching impact of the scheme, saying the harm suffered by victims went beyond financial losses.
The judge described the crime as “devastating,” noting that it was “not an exaggeration to say it ruined lives not only financial lives” but also caused victims “shame, depression, and isolation from their own family.”
According to prosecutors, Nwadialo spent approximately 15 years deceiving victims by creating fake online identities and presenting himself as a romantic partner. He was said to have primarily targeted older individuals, including widows and divorcees, manipulating them into sending money under false pretences.
Commenting on the conviction, First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the defendant deliberately exploited people already dealing with emotional pain and personal loss.
“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.
Court records cited in the statement revealed that Nwadialo operated under various versions of the name “Giovanni” on dating platforms such as Match, Zoosk and Christian Café. Investigators said he used stolen photographs and fabricated personal details, often claiming to be a military officer stationed overseas to justify his inability to meet victims in person.
Authorities said he employed several false narratives to obtain money from victims. In one case, he allegedly claimed the military had fined him $150,000 for disclosing his location and requested financial assistance to settle the penalty. In other instances, he sought funds purportedly for his father’s death, funeral arrangements, his son’s school fees, or investment opportunities.
The FBI said the scheme relied heavily on building trust before exploiting victims financially.
“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,” said W. Mike Harrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office.
Prosecutors told the court that many victims suffered lasting emotional and financial consequences as a result of the fraud.
According to the statement, one victim remained convinced she was in a genuine relationship with Nwadialo’s online persona for three years before discovering the deception through an FBI investigation.
Another victim, a widow, reportedly lost both her home and life savings after selling assets to send money to the scammer and continues to face financial hardship linked to the losses.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.
