FBI Busts $50 Million Fraud Network Involving Two Nigerian Nationals

Two Nigerian nationals, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, alongside four others, have been indicted in the United States for orchestrating a sophisticated $50 million fraud scheme that spanned four years and exploited multiple federal relief programs, including those established during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The accused individuals—Aluko, Nobore, Shan Anand, Nicholas Pappas, Leonard Ujkic, and Jorge Gonzalez—allegedly operated a multi-layered check fraud network from 2021 to 2025, targeting the U.S. Treasury and various emergency financial assistance schemes.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the group created sham businesses and used stolen or fabricated identities to open bank accounts into which they deposited fraudulent checks, including tax refunds, social security payments, and COVID-era relief funds such as the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and Qualified Sick Leave Wages (QSLW).

A bank employee within the group reportedly aided the operation by facilitating account openings and processing fraudulent transactions internally.

Federal prosecutors allege the defendants attempted to steal approximately $80 million in total, of which about $50 million was successfully laundered through fake entities and illicit accounts under their control.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky described the conspiracy as a calculated effort to exploit government programs meant to assist Americans during a national crisis.

“This Office will not tolerate the exploitation of programmes designed to support the public in times of crisis,” he said.

Evidence submitted by investigators includes branded clothing worn by the accused featuring the slogan “Bag Hunter” and a video titled “2021 Fraud Bible,” which reportedly offered instructional content on credit card and ATM fraud techniques.

FBI Acting Assistant Director Leslie R. Backschies described the group’s actions as “a brazen attempt to exploit multiple U.S. government programmes,” adding that federal authorities remain committed to prosecuting financial crimes that undermine public trust.

IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., confirmed that some defendants openly discussed their criminal activity and flaunted their success on digital platforms.

The accused face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, conspiracy to commit money laundering (20 years), conspiracy to defraud the government (10 years), and aggravated identity theft (2 years).

The case is being prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the New York City Police Department all playing collaborative roles in the investigation.

As court proceedings begin, federal authorities reiterated their commitment to holding accountable those who defraud public institutions and misuse emergency programs designed to serve vulnerable populations.