An aspiring rapper and two other people have been charged over an alleged Southern California scheme involving more than $8.1 million (£6.1 million) in stolen US Treasury and private cheques.
Ada William Obayuwana, 31, who performs under the names “ColdheartedAC” and “AC”, is accused of working with Albert Tai Vu, 28, and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31. All three face nine counts of bank fraud in a 25-count federal indictment.
Prosecutors allege the operation ran from at least April 2022 to December 2023, with the defendants obtaining hundreds of cheques belonging to individuals and businesses, as well as more than 50 Treasury cheques.
The government payments allegedly included tax refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security benefits. The indictment claims the group forged endorsements, altered names and addresses, and opened bank accounts to receive the money.
Investigators say deposits were made at banks and credit unions across Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The defendants are also accused of using business documents that imitated victims’ names and other identifying details.
What prosecutors allege about the $8.1 million cheque scheme
Obayuwana allegedly attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax-refund cheques worth about $382,109 in total, successfully withdrawing approximately $229,109 from one of them.
In December 2023, he was allegedly found with more than 100 stolen or fraudulent cheques in his vehicle in Oceanside. They were worth more than $6.1 million, including 48 Treasury cheques valued at roughly $2.56 million. Prosecutors say eight of the cheques were successfully cashed for a combined $1.7 million.
Vu is accused of attempting to cash six Treasury cheques worth $2.15 million and successfully cashing two tax-refund cheques valued at $772,159. He is also alleged to have obtained two cashier’s cheques worth $250,000 each from an Anaheim bank.
According to the indictment, money from one of those cheques was paid to an associate’s company and used to buy a Range Rover, while the other was paid to Murrillo. Murrillo is accused of attempting to cash two cheques worth $60,193 and successfully cashing one valued at $31,405.
Obayuwana was arrested on Wednesday, 26 August, and remained in federal custody after appearing in court in Los Angeles. Vu was arrested the following day, while Murrillo was expected to surrender to federal authorities on Monday, 31 August.
Obayuwana faces additional charges of delivering stolen Treasury cheques and aggravated identity theft. Vu faces further counts relating to stolen Treasury cheques, money laundering and aggravated identity theft, while Murrillo faces another stolen-cheque charge.
The investigation is being carried out by the US Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division and the US Postal Inspection Service.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in federal prison for each bank-fraud count. Certain other charges carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for each count.
The charges are allegations. All three defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
