“If you are attempting to enrich yourself by scamming Americans from behind a keyboard… the FBI is willing and able to bring you to the United States to face justice.”
A 39-year-old Nigerian man, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, has been extradited from France to the United States to face charges of hacking, fraud and identity theft. The US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York said he also used the names Chukwuemeka Victor Eletuo and So Kwan Leung.
“Amachukwu allegedly operated multiple illicit fraud schemes – identity theft, computer intrusions via spear phishing and false investments – profiting at the costs of others,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia.
Prosecutors allege Amachukwu and co-conspirators hacked into US tax preparation firms, stole customer information, and filed fraudulent tax returns seeking $8.4 million, successfully obtaining $2.5 million. They also allegedly defrauded the Small Business Administration of $819,000 through false disaster loan claims.
He faces multiple charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, computer intrusion, and aggravated identity theft, carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per count. Sentencing will be determined by a judge.
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