TL;DR: The US Attorney's Office for Western Washington announced on June 23, 2026 that Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, 42, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to five years in prison for about 15 years of online romance fraud that cost eight victims some $3.5 million. He used versions of the name “Giovanni” and often claimed to be a deployed military member.
What happened
According to the US Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, 42, a Nigerian national, was sentenced in Tacoma by US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright to five years in prison. He was indicted in December 2023 on 14 counts of wire fraud and arrested in 2024 at an airport in Texas after arriving in the US. Prosecutors had asked for five years. The release says the fraud ran about 15 years and cost eight victims more than $3.5 million.
The personas and ploys
- He used various versions of the name “Giovanni” with false photos and information, and often claimed to be a military member deployed overseas so he never had to meet victims.
- He met victims on Match, Zoosk and Christian Café, and targeted older people, often widowed or divorced.
- He told one victim he had been fined $150,000 by the military for revealing his location.
- Other ploys: help moving money after his father's death, investing money for a victim, and funds for his father's funeral and his son's school tuition.
The human cost
One victim was in a “relationship” with his fake persona for three years before the FBI revealed the truth. A widow lost her home and life savings and still faces financial penalties from liquidating her assets. Judge Cartwright called the crime devastating and said it ruined lives beyond finances, causing shame, depression and isolation.
Red flags
- A deployed soldier, oil rig worker or engineer who can never meet.
- Stories that require you to hold, move or invest money for them.
- Fines, funerals or tuition that appear suddenly.
- Use of a faith or widowed-and-lonely angle to build trust fast.
Our guides on dating app romance scams and red flags cover these ploys. Report at IC3 and read how to report a scam to IC3. A scammer needs an email or phone to start; run our free email exposure check to see what of yours is exposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money was lost?
More than $3.5 million from eight victims, according to the US Attorney's Office.
What was the sentence?
Five years in prison, imposed in Tacoma by Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright.
Which sites did he use?
Match, Zoosk and Christian Café.
What persona did he use?
Various versions of the name “Giovanni”, often as a deployed military member.
Sources
- US Attorney's Office, W.D. Washington: Nigerian national sentenced to five years in prison for $3.5 million romance scam (Jun 23, 2026)
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- FTC ReportFraud