Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, newly elected chairman of Ogbaru LGA in Nigeria, was arrested in Texas for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar romance fraud scheme. Charged with 14 counts of wire fraud, he allegedly defrauded victims of over $3.3 million using fake military personas on dating platforms.
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria, was arrested in Texas upon arrival from Nigeria. He faces charges related to a multi-million-dollar romance fraud scheme. Nwadialo, indicted in December 2023, is accused of scamming victims out of over $3.3 million by posing as a U.S. military officer.
The 40-year-old is charged with 14 counts of wire fraud after allegedly using false identities and images online to target victims through dating websites like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. He reportedly claimed to be stationed abroad, which prevented him from meeting the victims in person. Authorities believe Nwadialo defrauded victims of up to $2 million individually.
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman highlighted the difficulty of prosecuting such scams, especially when the perpetrators are based overseas. She praised the determination of investigators for their persistence in tracking down Nwadialo, who will now face arraignment in Washington, where the case is being handled.
