Ada William Obayuwana, 31, also known as "ColdheartedAC," of Quartz Hill, has been arrested alongside Albert Tai Vu, 28, of Westminster and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, of San Diego in connection with an alleged check fraud scheme, according to the Justice Department.
A federal grand jury indictment charges the three defendants with a combined 25 counts. All three face bank fraud charges. Obayuwana is additionally charged with three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks and one count of aggravated identity theft. Vu faces five counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks, four counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Murrillo is charged with one additional count of delivering stolen Treasury checks.
According to the indictment, the alleged scheme operated from at least April 2022 through December 2023. During that period, the defendants allegedly obtained and possessed more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks along with hundreds of other checks totaling more than $8.1 million.
The Treasury checks allegedly included tax refunds, veterans' benefits, and Social Security payments. Prosecutors say the defendants altered names and addresses or forged endorsements on the checks to cash them. The defendants also allegedly created business documents designed to resemble those belonging to actual victims.
The defendants allegedly established bank accounts to receive the stolen funds and deposited checks at banks and credit unions across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Obayuwana and Vu are also accused of using stolen identities as part of the alleged scheme.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count. Charges involving counterfeit Treasury checks and money laundering carry potential sentences of up to 10 years, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term for each count.
