France-Based Nigerian Extradited to U.S. Over $819,000 Fraud, Risks 47-Year Jail
A Nigerian national based in France, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, has been extradited to the United States to face multiple federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and computer intrusion, all tied to a scheme that defrauded victims of over $819,000.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that Amachukwu was extradited from France on Monday and arraigned the following day before a U.S. Magistrate Court. His case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe.
According to the DOJ, Amachukwu and unnamed co-conspirators were involved in a sophisticated cyber fraud operation in 2019 that targeted U.S.-based tax preparation businesses across states including New York and Texas. The group allegedly used spearphishing emails to compromise internal systems and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Once inside, the suspects reportedly stole the identities of multiple individuals to file fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“The conspirators sought fraudulent refunds of at least approximately $8.4 million, of which they successfully obtained at least approximately $2.5 million,” the DOJ stated.
Beyond the IRS fraud, Amachukwu and his co-actors allegedly exploited the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programme, securing an additional $819,000 in fraudulent disbursements using stolen identities.
The 39-year-old was arrested in France following investigations and is now facing a total of five federal counts, including; one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions (max sentence: 5 years), two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (max sentence: 20 years each), two counts of wire fraud (max sentence: 20 years each), one count of aggravated identity theft, which mandates a consecutive two-year prison term
“The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge,” the DOJ added.
In a separate indictment, Amachukwu is also facing charges linked to an alleged investment scam involving non-existent standby letters of credit, which reportedly cost victims millions of dollars.
“Amachukwu is also charged with participating in a separate fraud scheme. In this scheme, the defendant offered victims investments in purportedly valuable standby letters of credit. However, these letters of credit did not exist, and Amachukwu pocketed millions of dollars of his victims’ money,” the statement concluded.
