Nigerian national facing up to decades in prison after over $2.5 million wired from scams by Massachusetts woman

BOSTON — On Thursday, a 35-year-old Nigerian national from Abuja, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to stealing over $2.5 million from six romance scam victims by funneling their money into cryptocurrency accounts he controlled.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid admitted to charges 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. He was arrested in April 2025 upon arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from the United Kingdom and was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in January 2024 on mail fraud and money laundering charges.

Court documents reveal that romance scams involve creating fake profiles on dating or social media platforms to build trust with victims through pretended romantic relationships. Scammers then manipulate victims into sending money or handling transactions for others under false pretenses, such as urgent needs for inheritance funds or medical expenses. Between 2016 and September 2019, Nwadavid orchestrated such scams, tricking a Massachusetts victim into receiving funds from five others across the U.S. This victim then transferred the money to Nwadavid via cryptocurrency transactions, with Nwadavid accessing the victim’s accounts from overseas to move funds to his LocalBitcoins accounts.

The mail fraud charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the victim’s loss, plus restitution and forfeiture. Each money laundering charge allows for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the laundered property’s value, along with restitution and forfeiture. Deportation is expected after any sentence. Sentencing will follow U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Boston Division 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.