According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Justice, six individuals, including two Nigerians based in the United States, have been charged in a massive fraud scheme worth $50 million. The suspects, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, along with four others, were arraigned before a court in New York. If convicted, each defendant could face up to 62 years in prison.
The charges against them include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the government, and aggravated identity theft. Court documents state that the alleged crimes took place between March 2020 and March 2025 in New York and other locations across the U.S.
According to the indictment, the defendants and others involved in the scheme worked together to steal money using fraudulent methods. They allegedly used stolen, counterfeit, and fraudulently obtained checks, which were deposited into various bank accounts. The funds were then withdrawn or transferred before banks could detect the fraudulent nature of the transactions.
Authorities claim that the suspects also stole personal and business identities to open new bank accounts. One of their members, who was a bank teller at the time, allegedly played a key role in setting up these accounts. The accounts were then used to deposit fraudulent checks from different U.S. government agencies.
The court documents further reveal that after depositing the checks, the suspects quickly withdrew the stolen funds in cash or moved them to other accounts under their control. Investigators estimate that the group attempted to obtain a total of $80 million, successfully securing about $50 million.
In addition to these fraudulent activities, the suspects are accused of maintaining a so-called “fraud bible.” This document reportedly contained specific instructions on how members of the scheme should operate. Authorities also discovered that the group openly discussed their fraudulent activities through a Telegram group.
Commenting on the case, U.S. FBI Acting Assistant Director Leslie R. Backschies stated, “These six defendants allegedly used sham businesses, stolen, and fake identities to operate a multi-year cheque fraud scheme, resulting in $50 million in illicit funds being deposited into their accounts.”
Similarly, IRS Special Agent in Charge Harry Chavis condemned the actions of the accused, saying, “This group of suspects openly communicated about their fraud, taking pride in the multiple schemes that stole nearly $50 million from the American public.”
The six suspects—identified as Aluko, Nobore, Anand, Pappas, Ujkic, and Gonzalez—have been charged with serious federal crimes. If convicted, each could receive a sentence of up to 62 years in prison. However, the court document notes that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
