The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service have identified two Nigerians, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, among six individuals linked to a $50 million fraud case in the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the suspects, all based in the U.S., face multiple charges and could each receive a maximum prison sentence of 62 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew Podolsky, stated that the defendants allegedly stole millions in COVID-19 relief funds and vowed to hold them accountable.
“We allege that the defendants stole tens of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief and other checks, and even used a ‘Fraud Bible’ containing instructions for committing fraud. This Office will not tolerate the exploitation of programs designed to support the public in times of crisis, and we and our law enforcement partners will hold those responsible to full account,” Podolsky said.
Each defendant faces charges including wire and bank fraud (30 years), money laundering (20 years), government fraud (10 years), and identity theft (2 years).
According to the indictment, the suspects—including Nobore and Aluko—operated a check fraud and money laundering network between 2021 and 2025. They allegedly used fake identities and sham businesses to deposit stolen or fraudulent checks, including U.S. Treasury payments meant for COVID-19 relief, tax refunds, and benefits for veterans and the elderly.
FBI’s Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Leslie R. Backschies, emphasized the extent of the scheme: “These six defendants allegedly used sham businesses, stolen, and fake identities to operate a multi-year check 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.
Federal investigators also revealed that the group relied on a document known as the “Fraud Bible,” which contained instructions for various financial crimes, including credit card fraud, ATM fraud, and mobile cash transfer fraud. Evidence from their communications showed that some defendants openly shared methods to manipulate financial systems.
IRS Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., stressed the deliberate nature of the crimes.
“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 that need it, all while stealing checks from agencies who assist the elderly and veterans,” Chavis said.
In addition to fraud-related charges, the defendants face conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence.
