Nigerian Man Sentenced for $3.5M Romance Scam

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, 42, was sentenced to five years in prison by U.S. District Judge Tiffani M.

Cartwright for his role in a romance scam that defrauded multiple victims of $3.5 million. Nwadialo was arrested at an airport in Texas upon arriving in the United States in 2024 and was later indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud linked to the scheme.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington stated that Nwadialo spent 15 years deceiving victims by creating fake online identities and posing as romantic partners, often targeting older individuals, particularly widows and divorcees.

He manipulated victims into sending money under various false pretenses, including claims of military deployment and financial emergencies. Prosecutors noted the devastating emotional and psychological impact on victims, some of whom lost their life savings and faced ongoing financial difficulties.

The FBI's Mike Harrington emphasized that the scheme left victims with significant emotional damage, as many believed they were in genuine relationships with Nwadialo's online persona.