A 39-year-old Nigerian national, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, has been extradited from France to the United States to face charges of computer hacking, identity theft, and wire fraud. According to the US Department of Justice, Amachukwu and his co-conspirators allegedly hacked into US tax preparation businesses, stealing customers’ sensitive information to file fraudulent tax returns.
The group, believed to be operating from Nigeria, targeted tax preparation firms in several states, including New York and Texas, using phishing emails to gain access to their systems. They reportedly sought $8.4 million in refunds and successfully obtained at least $2.5 million. Additionally, Amachukwu allegedly used stolen identities to file fake claims with the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, obtaining $819,000 in fraudulent payouts.
Charges and Potential Sentence
Amachukwu faces five criminal counts, including:
– Conspiracy to Commit Computer Intrusions: 5 years maximum sentence
– Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud: 20 years maximum sentence (two counts)
– Wire Fraud: 20 years maximum sentence (two counts)
– Aggravated Identity Theft: Mandatory 2-year sentence
If convicted on all counts, Amachukwu could face up to 47 years in prison. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is handling the case, highlighting the government’s efforts to crack down on international cybercrime rings targeting US government programs