Two Nigerians based in the United States, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, along with four others, face up to 62 years in prison after being arraigned in a New York court for allegedly defrauding the U.S. government of $50 million.
According to a statement from federal authorities, the defendants—Shan Anand, Nosakhare Nobore, Nicholas Pappas, Leonard Ujkic, Solomon Aluko (also known as “D1 ReallyRich”), and Jorge Gonzalez—ran a multi-year check fraud scheme, using stolen and fake identities to deposit illicit funds.
Prosecutors allege the group attempted to steal a total of $80 million, successfully laundering $50 million through fraudulent bank accounts linked to sham businesses.
The indictment, unsealed by Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky, revealed that the scheme targeted government relief programs, including COVID-19 assistance funds.
However, Podolsky condemned the exploitation of emergency aid, stating, “This Office will not tolerate the exploitation of programs designed to support the public in times of crisis.”
The FBI’s Acting Assistant Director, Leslie R. Backschies, described the operation as a “brazen attempt to exploit multiple U.S. government programs” and vowed that those responsible would face justice.
Meanwhile, IRS Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. noted that the suspects openly discussed their fraudulent activities and boasted about their success.
As alleged in the indictment, the six defendants worked together from 2021 to 2025 to steal money from the U.S. government, banks, and individuals.
The defendants opened bank accounts for individuals or businesses using fake or stolen identity information. One of the defendants, who was a teller at a major bank, assisted them in doing so. From the inside, he worked to open or alter bank accounts to advance the defendants’ fraud.
The defendants then deposited fraudulently obtained or counterfeit checks into the accounts. Many of the checks were issued by the U.S. Treasury (the “Treasury”) based on false and fraudulent filings with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) and Qualified Sick Leave Wages (“QSLW”) credit.
“The ERC is a refundable tax credit for businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees during and were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers must have paid qualified wages to claim the credit.
“The QSLW credit is a related credit that was also established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants did not operate businesses that would have qualified for these credits. The businesses they used to open bank accounts and apply for the credits were fake or sham businesses,” the indictment reads.
As part of the defendants’ scheme, various Treasury checks were processed, including payments for personal and corporate income tax refunds. Additionally, some Treasury checks were linked to government programs administered by agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration.
Many of these checks—both Treasury-issued and private—were stolen from the mail or other sources, and some were partially or entirely forged.
Once deposited, the defendants withdrew the fraudulently obtained funds in cash or transferred them to bank accounts under their control.
Throughout their scheme, they attempted to secure approximately $80 million, successfully depositing around $50 million.
The defendants openly discussed their fraudulent activities. One individual sent another a video recording of a document titled “2021 Fraud Bible,” which provided instructions on committing various types of fraud, including credit card fraud, ATM fraud, and mobile cash transfer fraud.
Since at least 2021, some members of the conspiracy have worn clothing featuring a logo of a running sack of money alongside the phrase “Bag Hunter.” This emblem was displayed while engaging in criminal activities. For instance, an image captured NOBORE withdrawing fraudulently obtained funds while prominently displaying the Bag Hunter logo.
The defendants—ANAND, 34, of Queens, New York; NOBORE, 29, of Edgewater, New Jersey; PAPPAS, 28, of Miami, Florida; UJKIC, 44, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; ALUKO, 29, of Hackensack, New Jersey; and GONZALEZ, 28, of North Bergen, New Jersey—face multiple charges. These include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, carrying a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; conspiracy to commit money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions with unlawfully obtained property, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years; conspiracy to defraud the government, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years.
These maximum potential sentences are set by Congress and are provided for informational purposes. The final sentencing will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Podolsky commended the exceptional work of the FBI and IRS-CI and expressed gratitude to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New York City Police Department for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime, as well as the Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Units. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh, Steven J. Kochevar, and Qais Ghafary are leading the prosecution.
