Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to 2016-2019 Cryptocurrency Romance Fraud Scheme

Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court on June 25 to charges of mail fraud and money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Nwadavid admitted to laundering funds obtained through online romance fraud between 2016 and 2019. The scheme involved six U.S. victims who were recruited through social media and dating platforms and persuaded to send money under false pretenses, such as medical emergencies or legal fees.

Nwadavid controlled cryptocurrency accounts used to move victim funds and accessed them remotely from overseas. The transactions were processed through LocalBitcoins, an online peer-to-peer platform. One Massachusetts victim unknowingly received funds from five others and then transferred the money to Nwadavid via cryptocurrency. Nwadavid was indicted in January 2024 and arrested in April 2025 upon arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from the United Kingdom. His sentencing is scheduled for September 23, and he faces up to 20 years for each count, as well as fines, restitution, and deportation following any sentence.

This case highlights the growing trend of using cryptocurrency to launder proceeds from relationship-based fraud. Law enforcement has observed an increase in such schemes, where victims are recruited separately but used to channel funds from others, obscuring the source and destination of the money. The use of peer-to-peer platforms and foreign exchanges often limits recovery, especially when victims are used to move funds unknowingly. Authorities warn that enforcement tools are still catching up, and while blockchain data offers visibility, gaps in regulation and technical capacity continue to hinder timely intervention.