“I CAN CASH ALL THESE CHECKS AND NOBODY WILL STOP ME”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY AN ASPIRING RAPPER AND TWO OTHERS POSSESSED OVER $8.1 MILLION IN STOLEN CHECKS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA… AND ALL THREE NOW FACE DECADES IN FEDERAL PRISON.
From at least April 2022 through December 2023, three people allegedly obtained and possessed more than $8.1 million in stolen checks throughout Southern California.
The stolen checks included more than 50 United States Treasury checks.
Those government checks contained tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security benefits.
The defendants allegedly forged endorsements on the checks.
They allegedly changed names and addresses on the stolen checks.
They also opened bank accounts to receive fraudulently transferred money.
And they used business documents containing names and identifying information belonging to victims.
Those stolen records were used to cash stolen checks at financial institutions.
The transactions took place at banks and credit unions in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
Among the defendants is 31-year-old Ada William Obayuwana.
Obayuwana is an aspiring rapper who performs under the names ColdheartedAC and AC.
He allegedly attempted to cash at least three stolen Treasury tax refund checks.
Those three Treasury checks were worth approximately $382,109.
One of the checks was successfully cashed.
That successful transaction allowed approximately $229,109 to be withdrawn.
Then, in December 2023, Obayuwana was allegedly found in possession of more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks inside his vehicle in Oceanside, California.
The checks inside the vehicle were worth more than $6.1 million.
Among them were 48 stolen Treasury checks worth approximately $2.5 million.
Those 48 checks included tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security benefits.
Eight of the checks found in the vehicle had already been successfully cashed.
Those eight cashed checks totaled approximately $1.7 million.
Authorities also charged 28-year-old Albert Tai Vu.
Vu allegedly attempted to cash at least six Treasury checks worth more than $2.1 million.
He successfully cashed two tax refund checks.
Those two tax refund checks were worth $772,159.
In April 2023, Vu allegedly used money derived from unlawful activity to obtain two cashier’s checks.
Each cashier’s check was worth $250,000.
One of the checks was paid to a co-schemer’s company.
That check was used to purchase a Range Rover.
The second $250,000 check was paid to Cassandra Marie Murrillo.
Murrillo, 31, is the third defendant charged in the case.
She allegedly attempted to cash at least two checks worth $60,193.
Murrillo successfully cashed one check worth $31,405.
Obayuwana and Vu are also accused of using stolen identities during the scheme.
On August 26, 2026, Obayuwana was arrested.
He appeared in federal court in Los Angeles, California, that same day.
On August 27, 2026, Vu was arrested.
Murrillo is expected to surrender to federal authorities on August 31, 2026.
On August 28, 2026, a federal judge ordered Obayuwana detained pending trial.
Vu was released on a $15,000 bond.
A federal grand jury charged all three defendants with nine counts of bank fraud.
Obayuwana is additionally charged with three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks.
He is also charged with aggravated identity theft.
Vu is additionally charged with five counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks.
He faces four counts of money laundering.
Vu is also charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Murrillo is additionally charged with one count of delivering stolen Treasury checks.
If convicted, each bank fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
Certain Treasury check and money laundering charges carry maximum sentences of 10 years.
Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two-year prison sentence.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
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