FBI Arrests Top Nigerian Politician in US over Alleged $3.3m Romance Scam
- Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, 40, was arrested in Houston, United States, for a $3.3 million romance scam targeting victims on dating sites
- The FBI detained Nwadialo, who has been identified as the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru LGA in Anambra state, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- Posing as “Tony Giovanni,” he allegedly tricked victims with fake military and family crises, prompting them to send money
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Houston, United States - Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, identified as the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru LGA in Anambra state, Nigeria, was arrested in Houston, the United States, in connection with a $3.3 million romance scam, according to federal authorities.
In an elaborate scheme involving online dating platforms, Nwadialo, 40, is accused of defrauding at least four victims out of more than $3.3 million.
Source: Getty Images
According to a statement by the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, Nwadialo, who was travelling from Nigeria, was taken into custody at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after arriving in the US.
He was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (agents FBI) and is set to be arraigned in the Western District of Washington.
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The arrest comes after a December indictment on 14 counts of wire fraud related to his alleged role in the romance scam.
FBI officials confirmed that Nwadialo was operating with the unidentified co-conspirator, as reported by USA Today.
The charges stem from a series of fraudulent schemes involving victims he allegedly met through online dating services like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café.
Fraudulent claims and deceptive tactics
Nwadialo was accused of using fake images to lure victims into a false sense of trust. According to the indictment, he told victims that he was serving in the military and was stationed overseas, explaining why they could not meet in person.
Operating under various aliases, including "Tony Giovanni" and "David Giovanni," he built relationships with his targets before making financial demands.
The indictment outlines a series of fabricated stories that Nwadialo used to manipulate his victims.
One victim was allegedly told that Nwadialo faced a $150,000 fine after revealing his location while stationed overseas.
Another victim was led to believe that Nwadialo needed financial assistance after the death of his father, resulting in a transfer of at least $330,000 to Nwadialo's accounts.
Continued investigation and accountability
It was unclear whether Nwadialo had been assigned legal representation.
Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the case, seeking accountability for Nwadialo's alleged role in a growing epidemic of romance fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.
Editorial note: While the US authorities did not describe Nwadialo as a Nigerian politician, two Nigerian media outlets, TheCable and Daily Trust, identified him as the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA).
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