Southern California Rapper Arrested in $8.1M Stolen Check Scheme
Prosecutors say the defendants deposited stolen Treasury checks and used fake identities to move funds into accounts they controlled.
- On Friday, federal officials charged three individuals, including Los Angeles County rapper Ada William Obayuwana, in a scheme involving more than $8.1 million in stolen checks. The indictment alleges the group illegally possessed over 50 U.S. Treasury checks containing federal benefits.
- Between April 2022 and December 2023, the defendants allegedly forged endorsements on tax refunds and Social Security Administration payments to siphon funds. They deposited stolen money into bank accounts across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
- Albert Tai Vu, 28, and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, face charges alongside Obayuwana, who is known as "ColdheartedAC." The group allegedly used business documents mimicking victims' identities, and agents recovered over 100 stolen checks from Obayuwana's car in December 2023.
- Obayuwana remains in custody following his Wednesday court appearance, while Vu was arrested Thursday and Murrillo is expected to surrender Monday. Each faces nine counts of bank fraud, carrying statutory maximums of 30 years in prison per count.
- Federal agencies including the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the scheme. If convicted, the defendants also face mandatory consecutive two-year terms for each count of aggravated identity theft, according to prosecutors.
11 Articles
11 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)California rapper among three charged in $8.1 million stolen checks scheme
More than 100 stolen or altered checks were found in the aspiring rapper’s car, including tax refund and federal benefits checks, according to the DOJ
MyNewsLA.com
KESQLACo Rapper Among Three Charged in $8.1M Stolen Checks Scheme
An aspiring Los Angeles County rapper was among three defendants charged with allegedly having illegally obtained and possessed stolen checks totaling more than $8.1 million, including more than 50 U.S. Treasury checks, officials announced Friday. Ada William Obayuwana, 31, also known as “ColdheartedAC,” of Quartz Hill, is charged in federal court alongside Albert Tai Vu, […]
Southern California rapper arrested in $8.1M stolen check scheme
An aspiring Los Angeles-area rapper was arrested Wednesday in connection with a multimillion-dollar stolen check-cashing scheme connected to stolen tax refunds, federal officials announced Friday. …
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