BOSTON – In a shocking display of greed, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his involvement in the theft of over $2.5 million from six romance scam victims.
The scam, which operated between 2016 and September 2019, targeted victims through online advertisements for relationships on dating and social media websites. Nwadavid, using fictitious profiles, gained the trust of his victims before directing them to send money or conduct financial transactions under false pretenses.
One victim from Massachusetts was tricked into receiving funds from five other victims across the United States, which were then passed to Nwadavid through cryptocurrency transactions. He repeatedly accessed the victim’s accounts from overseas, transferring the funds to his own accounts on LocalBitcoins, an online cryptocurrency platform.
Nwadavid is charged with mail fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering, and money laundering. The mail fraud charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the loss to the victim, restitution, and forfeiture.
The money laundering charges also provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the laundering transactions, restitution, and forfeiture.
U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for September 23, 2025. Nwadavid was arrested in April 2025 after arriving on a flight from the United Kingdom to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth B. Kosto and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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