LOS ANGELES - An aspiring rapper is among two defendants arrested - and a total of three defendants charged - in a 25-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they illegally possessed more than 50 stolen United States Treasury checks and hundreds of other checks belonging to individuals and businesses, totaling more than $8.1 million, then cashed and attempted to cash stolen checks at lenders throughout Southern California, the Justice Department announced today.

Ada William Obayuwana, 31, a.k.a. "ColdheartedAC" and "AC," of Quartz Hill, is charged alongside Albert Tai Vu, 28, of Westminster, and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, of San Diego, with nine counts of bank fraud.

Obayuwana is also charged with three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks and one count of aggravated identity theft. Vu is charged with five counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks, four counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Murillo is charged with an additional count of delivering stolen Treasury checks.

Obayuwana was arrested and made his initial appearance in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday. His detention hearing is scheduled for today. He remains in federal custody.

Vu was arrested Thursday and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Murrillo is expected to surrender to federal authorities on Monday in Los Angeles.

According to the indictment, from at least April 2022 to December 2023, the defendants illegally obtained and possessed stolen checks totaling more than $8.1 million, including more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks. The stolen U.S. Treasury checks contained tax refunds, veterans' benefits, and Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. The defendants then forged endorsements on the Treasury checks or altered names and addresses on the checks for the purpose of stealing them.

The defendants opened bank accounts for the purpose of receiving the fraudulently transferred funds. Sometimes, they used business documents mimicking the names and other identifiers of the victims to cash stolen checks. The defendants then deposited stolen funds into accounts at bank and credit union branches in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.

From April 2022 to December 2023, Obayuwana attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax refund checks with a total value of approximately $382,109. He ultimately successfully cashed one of those checks, withdrawing a total of approximately $229,109 in funds that were in the possession, control, and custody of the banks.

In December 2023, Obayuwana possessed in his car in Oceanside more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks, cumulatively worth more than $6.1 million. Among those checks were 48 stolen U.S. Treasury checks worth approximately $2,555,417 in tax refunds, veterans' benefits, and SSA benefits. Of the checks he illegally possessed, eight were successfully cashed for a total value of approximately $1,701,507.

From April 2022 to December 2023, Vu attempted to cash at least six Treasury checks with a total value of $2,151,391 and successfully cashed two tax refund checks worth $772,159.

During that period, Murillo attempted to cash at least two checks worth $60,193 and successfully cashed one of them worth $31,405.

In April 2023, Vu executed two cashier's checks - each in the amount of $250,000 - at a bank in Anaheim. He used funds from a None to Lose LLC account that were derived from unlawful activity. The first check was paid out to a co-schemer's LLC, and the funds were used to purchase a Range Rover vehicle, while the second check was paid to Murillo.

Obayuwana and Vu also used stolen identities in furtherance of their bank fraud activities.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count, a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each counterfeit Treasury check- and money laundering-related count, and a mandatory consecutive two-year federal prison sentence for each count of aggravated identity theft.

The United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Diane Roldán of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.