Franklin Okechukwu Nwadialo, the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria, has been arrested by the FBI upon his arrival in Texas, United States. His arrest is linked to his alleged involvement in a $3.3 million romance scam, which targeted unsuspecting victims across the U.S.
According to documents circulated by the FBI, the charges against Nwadialo were announced by U.S. Attorney Gorman, and they allege that he masterminded a widespread romance scam that defrauded individuals of more than $3.3 million. Nwadialo is accused of creating multiple fake online personas, using them to fabricate personal crises and manipulate victims into sending large sums of money.
One notable example outlined in the indictment involves an incident in 2020, when Nwadialo allegedly posed as a military officer. He convinced one victim that he had been fined $150,000 for disclosing his location. Under this false pretense, he persuaded the victim to help him pay off the fine, ultimately swindling them out of approximately $2.4 million.
In another case, Nwadialo reportedly tricked a second victim in 2019 into assisting him with moving funds from U.S. bank accounts to accounts under his control. He claimed the transfer was necessary due to the death of his father, and as a result, the victim allegedly transferred at least $330,000.
A third victim, believing she was making a legitimate investment, transferred $270,000 into a cryptocurrency account that Nwadialo controlled. He allegedly manipulated her into thinking that a check she received from another individual was a return on her investment, prompting her to reinvest the funds into his account, unaware that she was being defrauded.
Additionally, Nwadialo is accused of targeting a fourth victim in August 2020, whom he met on an online dating platform. He allegedly fabricated stories about urgent family financial needs, including funeral expenses for his father and tuition fees for his son, convincing the victim to send him at least $310,000.
The indictment charges Nwadialo with fourteen counts of wire fraud, each carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Gorman emphasized that these charges are merely allegations, and Nwadialo is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The FBI has been investigating the case and arrested Nwadialo as soon as he arrived in the U.S. The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Jiang.
Nwadialo’s arrest has sent shockwaves through Anambra State, where his recent election as the chairman of Ogbaru LGA had generated a great deal of optimism among the local community. Many officials and residents are deeply concerned about the damage this arrest could do to the area’s reputation. The case serves as a reminder to the public about the dangers of online scams, with authorities urging people to remain cautious when approached for financial assistance online.
