By Favour Oghenetejiri
Two Nigerians living in the United States, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, along with four accomplices, are facing up to 62 years in prison each following their indictment in a New York court. They stand accused of orchestrating a fraud scheme that defrauded the US government of $50 million.
Court documents obtained from the US Department of Justice revealed that the suspects were charged with multiple offenses, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, conducting illegal monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft. The alleged crimes took place between March 2020 and March 2025, spanning the Southern District of New York and other locations across the US.
The charges outline how the defendants worked together to steal funds by passing off counterfeit, stolen, or fraudulently obtained checks. These checks were deposited in banks, and the funds were either withdrawn or transferred before the banks could detect the fraud.
The suspects are accused of using stolen identities and business information to open bank accounts, facilitated by one of the accused, who was working as a bank teller at the time. These accounts were then used to deposit the fraudulent checks from various US agencies.
After the checks were deposited, the defendants allegedly withdrew the funds in cash or transferred them to other accounts under their control. Over the course of the operation, the group attempted to steal approximately $80 million, successfully depositing around $50 million.
A key detail in the case is the existence of a so-called 'fraud bible,' which contained instructions for how each member of the group should carry out their tasks. The syndicate also communicated openly via a Telegram group, discussing the details of their fraudulent operations.
Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director of the FBI, stated, "These six individuals used fake businesses and stolen identities to carry out a multi-year fraud scheme, ultimately depositing $50 million in illicit funds into their accounts. They sought to exploit government programs for their own benefit, and the FBI will continue to pursue justice for these crimes."
Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of the US IRS, added, "This group was bold in their actions, stealing nearly $50 million from the American public while targeting programs meant to support businesses and veterans. They will now face the consequences of their illegal activities."
If convicted, the defendants could each face 62 years in prison. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud (with a maximum sentence of 30 years), conspiracy to commit money laundering (up to 20 years), conspiracy to defraud the government (up to 10 years), and aggravated identity theft (which carries a mandatory two-year sentence). However, as is customary, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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