Two Nigerians residing in the United States, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, along with four others, risk facing a 62-year prison sentence each after being arraigned in a New York court over allegations of defrauding the US government of $50 million.
According to court documents available on the US Department of Justice website, the suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, engaging in monetary transactions with unlawfully obtained funds, conspiracy to defraud the government, and aggravated identity theft.
The alleged crimes reportedly took place between March 2020 and March 2025 across multiple locations in the US, including the Southern District of New York.
Prosecutors claim the accused individuals worked together to pass counterfeit, stolen, and fraudulently obtained checks, which were deposited into bank accounts before funds were quickly withdrawn or transferred.
The scheme allegedly relied on stolen personal and business identities, with a bank teller among the conspirators helping to open fraudulent accounts.
Investigations revealed that the group attempted to steal around $80 million, successfully depositing approximately $50 million into their accounts.
Authorities also discovered that the suspects used a ‘fraud bible’ to coordinate their operations and communicated openly via a Telegram group.
Commenting on the case, FBI Acting Assistant Director Leslie R. Backschies stated that the defendants exploited multiple US government programs for financial gain, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to bringing fraudsters to justice.
Similarly, IRS Special Agent Harry Chavis condemned the suspects for taking pride in defrauding programs meant to assist struggling businesses, veterans, and the elderly.
If convicted, each defendant could face up to 62 years in prison. However, they remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
