Franklin Nwadialo, Anambra LG Chairman Arrested in Texas over Allegation of $3.3m Rom@nce Fr@ud

Franklin Nwadialo, a newly elected Chairman in the just concluded Local Govt election in Anambra State, has been arrested on allegations of a $3.3 million romance fraud.

The United States authorities , suspected to be the FBI, arrested Franklin Nwadialo, for allegedly running a $3.3 million rom@nce sc@m.

Addressing the issue on its website, the United States Attorney’s Office, said that the 40-year-old was arrested upon his arrival at an airport in Texas.

It also revealed that Nwadialo was indicted in December 2023 for 14 counts of wire fr@ud connected to his rom@nce fr@ud scheme.

The statement posted reads;

“ Franklin Nwadialo will be transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.

All too often the defendants in these rom@nce sc@ms are overseas and unreachable by U.S. law enforcement,” said US Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

“I congratulate investigators who are alert to any opportunity to arrest such defendants and hold them accountable.”

According to the indictment and criminal complaint filed in the case, Franklin Nwadialo allegedly defr@uded victims of more than $3.3 million.

A detailed account of the case reads:

“In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim.

He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine. In all, that victim was defr@uded of at least $2.4 million.

“A second victim was contacted in 2019 to help move funds from US accounts to accounts controlled by the defendant and his co-schemers.

In this instance Nwadialo represented that he needed the help moving money in connection with his father’s death.

The victim transferred at least $330,000 to the accounts controlled by the defendant.

“A third victim was defr@uded by Nwadialo when he told her that he was investing money for her.

“The 14 counts of wire fr@ud relate to the communications with Nwadialo and the wiring of funds from victims to the defendant and his co-schemers. Wire fr@ud is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.

“The charges contained in the indictment are only alleg*tions. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is also being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sok Jiang.”

This case may make the Chairman-Elect forfeit the chairmanship seat and face a Jury which may sentence him if found guilty.

A Lot of Nigerians has since reacted to his arrest on X (formerly Twitter), below are some of what they said;

@irrunia

“$3.3 million? Omo una dey cashout for this Yahoo ooo”

@donsokizz

“Haaa bro asin hmm abeg just $500,000 na how much Abeg for Naira these people carry 3.300 M!!!! What”

@jonehmk

“You went & did rom@nce sc@m, came home & used it for politics thinking US has forgotten the case. You have reached your bus stop there.

You had better tell your wife to send your duve you will be using inside the pr!son. It’s likely you are lucky you share cell with Husppopi!”

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