Franklin Nwadialo, the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, has been arrested in Texas for allegedly running a $3.3 million romance scam.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that he faces 14 charges and could receive a 20-year sentence if convicted. The FBI arrested the 40-year-old upon his arrival in Texas, and he has been transferred to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.
Nwadialo reportedly used the alias “Giovanni” on dating sites like Match and Zoosk, claiming to be a military officer deployed overseas. He fabricated various reasons for victims to send him money, leading to significant financial losses.
For instance, one victim was defrauded of at least $2.4 million under the guise of helping him pay a military fine. He also persuaded a second victim to transfer $330,000 by claiming he needed assistance due to his father’s death and convinced a third victim to “reinvest” $270,000 in a cryptocurrency account he controlled. Another victim was deceived into sending at least $310,000 for purported financial assistance.
The charges against him relate to wire fraud involving communications and fund transfers to himself and his co-conspirators. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Jiang.
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