Two Nigerians, Four Others Face 62 Years in U.S. Prison Over $50M Fraud Allegations
Two Nigerians, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, alongside four other individuals, are facing the possibility of 62 years in prison each after being arraigned before a New York court on allegations of defrauding the United States government of $50 million.
According to court documents obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) website, the accused were charged with multiple financial crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the government, and aggravated identity theft.
The suspects reportedly carried out the fraudulent scheme between March 2020 and March 2025 across various locations in the United States, including the Southern District of New York.
The charge sheet reveals that the accused individuals allegedly stole personal information and identities of individuals and businesses, using them to open fraudulent bank accounts. These accounts were then used to deposit fake, stolen, and fraudulently obtained cheques from various U.S. government agencies.
Once the funds were deposited, they were either withdrawn in cash or transferred to other accounts controlled by the syndicate. The court documents indicate that the group attempted to steal $80 million in total but successfully deposited around $50 million before authorities intervened.
Additionally, the suspects reportedly created a “fraud bible” containing detailed instructions on how each member of the syndicate should operate. Investigators also discovered that the syndicate used a Telegram group to coordinate their fraudulent activities in real time.
U.S. law enforcement agencies have condemned the alleged fraudulent activities of the suspects.
FBI Acting Assistant Director, Leslie R. Backschies, described the operation as a multi-year scheme aimed at exploiting the American financial system.
“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. The defendants brazenly attempted to exploit multiple United States government programs in their attempts to illegally enrich themselves,” Backschies stated.
Similarly, U.S. IRS Special Agent Harry Chavis criticized the accused for targeting public assistance programs meant for the vulnerable.
“This group of suspects openly communicated about their fraud, taking pride in the multiple schemes that stole nearly $50 million from the American public. They lied and cheated a benefits system meant to help struggling businesses, while also stealing cheques from agencies that assist the elderly and veterans. This gang of ‘bag hunters’ will now face justice for multiple charges.”
The accused individuals, who were named in the indictment, include:
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Solomon Aluko (29) – Hackensack, New Jersey
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Nosakhare Nobore (29) – Edgewater, New Jersey
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Anand (34) – Queens, New York
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Pappas (28) – Miami, Florida
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Ujkic (44) – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
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Gonzalez (28) – North Bergen, New Jersey
Each suspect faces up to 62 years in prison if convicted of all charges, which include:
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Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud (30 years)
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Conspiracy to commit money laundering (20 years)
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Conspiracy to defraud the government (10 years)
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Aggravated identity theft (mandatory 2 years)
While the charges against the defendants are serious, the U.S. Department of Justice has emphasized that they remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided for informational purposes only. Any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge,” the DoJ statement clarified.
The indictment of Aluko, Nobore, and their alleged co-conspirators highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. law enforcement to crack down on financial fraud. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case is expected to attract significant attention, particularly given the staggering amount of money involved.
If convicted, the six suspects could spend decades behind bars for their alleged crimes.
