A Nigerian man, 40-year-old Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, has been arrested in Texas in connection with a multi-million-dollar romance scam targeting American citizens.
U.S. officials took Nwadialo into custody as he arrived in Texas from Nigeria, accusing him of running a sophisticated fraud scheme that tricked victims into sending large sums of money.
Nwadialo was previously indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington in December 2023 on 14 counts of wire fraud.
Prosecutors say Nwadialo posed as a romantic partner, allegedly a U.S. military officer, on popular dating websites to gain the trust of his victims.
According to the indictment, the defendant used fake names, including “Giovanni,” to create multiple personas on dating platforms like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café.
Nwadialo allegedly used false photos and elaborate stories to lure victims, claiming he was deployed overseas and unable to meet them in person.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman highlighted the challenges of prosecuting fraud cases involving international criminals.
“All too often, the defendants in these romance scams are overseas and unreachable by U.S. law enforcement,” she said.
Gorman praised investigators for their diligence in tracking down Nwadialo and bringing him to face justice in the U.S.
According to court documents, Nwadialo allegedly defrauded his victims out of over $3.3 million.
In one instance, Nwadialo told a victim he was fined by the military for revealing his location, requesting a large sum of money as assistance.
“He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine,” Gorman revealed. “In total, this victim lost at least $2.4 million.”
Nwadialo reportedly contacted another victim in 2019, persuading them to transfer funds under the guise of helping him deal with family matters.
“In this instance, Nwadialo represented that he needed help moving money after his father’s death,” Gorman stated. “The victim transferred at least $330,000 to accounts controlled by the defendant.”
A third victim was allegedly deceived into believing Nwadialo was managing her investments, leading her to transfer substantial amounts to an account he controlled.
“He claimed that a check she received from another victim was proceeds from her investments,” said Gorman. “She reinvested the money, transferring at least $270,000 at Nwadialo’s direction.”
Court documents indicate that another victim, whom Nwadialo met in 2020 on an online dating site, lost more than $310,000 after Nwadialo claimed he needed financial assistance for various expenses.
These expenses allegedly included costs for a funeral and school tuition, with the funds wired to Nwadialo and his associates.
The fourteen counts of wire fraud Nwadialo faces relate to these communications and the wire transfers from the victims’ accounts to his and his accomplices’ accounts.
Wire fraud in the United States carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison per count, meaning Nwadialo could face a lengthy sentence if convicted.
In her statement, Gorman reminded the public that the charges are allegations, and Nwadialo is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations,” Gorman emphasized. “A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
The FBI, which led the investigation, continues to monitor such scams, as romance frauds have cost Americans millions of dollars in recent years.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sok Jiang, with Nwadialo scheduled for arraignment in Washington State, where the charges were initially filed.
As the U.S. continues to face rising cases of online romance fraud, law enforcement agencies are urging the public to exercise caution when engaging in online relationships.
“Romance scams have become a major source of financial devastation for countless people,” noted a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice.
