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Boston, MA – July, 2025 — A Nigerian national has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges stemming from his role in an international romance scam and money laundering scheme that defrauded victims of more than $2.5 million.
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, 35, of Abuja, Nigeria, admitted to one count each of mail fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering, and money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for September 23, 2025.
Nwadavid was arrested in April 2025 upon arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from the United Kingdom. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in January 2024.
According to court documents, between 2016 and September 2019, Nwadavid participated in romance scams that targeted victims across the United States. Using fictitious online personas, the scammers built fraudulent romantic relationships with victims, persuading them to transfer money under false pretenses — such as urgent medical expenses or inheritance processing.
One Massachusetts resident was used as an intermediary, unknowingly receiving funds from five additional victims and transferring them to Nwadavid via cryptocurrency transactions. Nwadavid accessed cryptocurrency accounts opened in the victim’s name, converting and transferring funds to wallets he controlled on platforms such as LocalBitcoins.
Potential Penalties
- Mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine or twice the loss amount, as well as restitution and asset forfeiture.
- Money laundering charges carry similar penalties, with fines of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered property.
Nwadavid is also subject to deportation following the completion of his sentence.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth B. Kosto and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division.
