Michaela
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a Nigerian national, has pleaded guilty in a Boston federal court to stealing more than $2.5 million from six victims through romance scams and laundering the funds through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled.
Nwadavid, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of mail fraud and money laundering, including aiding and abetting, according to an official press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. Nwadavid was taken into custody in April 2025 upon landing at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport following a flight from the United Kingdom.
Between approximately 2016 and September 2019, Nwadavid took part in a series of romance scams that defrauded multiple victims into sending funds overseas. According to prosecutors, he directed a Massachusetts resident, also a victim, to receive money from at least five other individuals across the United States, as part of a scheme to obscure the ultimate destination of the stolen funds.
After receiving funds from the five other victims, the individual transferred the money to Nwadavid via multiple cryptocurrency transactions. Nwadavid then accessed accounts held in the victim’s name from abroad, moving the stolen funds into cryptocurrency wallets he controlled on the online crypto platform, LocalBitcoins.
The charging documents define “romance scams” as fraudulent schemes in which perpetrators lure victims through advertisements on dating or social media platforms, posing as potential romantic partners. These scammers create fictitious profiles to establish trust and simulate romantic relationships.
Victims are subsequently manipulated into sending money or facilitating financial transactions involving funds from other victims, often under false pretenses such as urgent financial needs to secure a large inheritance or cover unexpected medical expenses.
If convicted of mail fraud, Nwadavid faces a potential prison term of up to 20 years, along with fines reaching $250,000 or twice the amount lost by the victims, as well as restitution and asset forfeiture.
For the money laundering charges, he could also receive up to 20 years behind bars, fines up to $500,000 or twice the value of laundered assets, plus restitution and forfeiture. Additionally, Nwadavid may be subject to deportation after serving any imposed sentence.
Romance scams are increasingly prevalent on social media platforms, with elderly individuals frequently targeted due to limited technological proficiency and a lack of awareness regarding common warning signs of such fraud.
In January, a 53-year-old woman in France was reportedly defrauded of her life savings after falling victim to a romance scam involving an AI-generated impersonation of actor Brad Pitt. The scammers allegedly convinced her that the funds were needed for urgent cancer treatment.
Read More
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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
