A Quartz Hill rapper, known as “ColdheartedAC,” was arrested last Wednesday and charged in connection with a multi-million dollar check-cashing scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Ada William Obayuwana, along with Albert Tai Vu of Westminster and Cassandra Marie Murrillo of San Diego, faces a 25-count federal grand jury indictment. The trio is accused of illegally possessing more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks and hundreds of other checks belonging to individuals and businesses, with a combined value exceeding $8.1 million. Federal authorities allege they cashed or attempted to cash these checks at various lenders throughout Southern California.
The indictment claims that between April 2022 and December 2023, the three individuals obtained stolen checks, some of which included tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security Administration benefits. They allegedly forged endorsements or modified names and addresses on these checks to steal the money. To facilitate the scheme, the trio is accused of opening bank accounts and using business documents to impersonate the identities of the victims tied to the stolen checks. The money was then deposited into bank and credit union accounts located across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
Federal authorities allege that Mr. Obayuwana attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax refund checks totaling $382,109 and successfully withdrew $229,109 from one of them. In December 2023, the indictment states, Mr. Obayuwana was found with “more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks, cumulatively worth more than $6.1 million” in his car in Oceanside. This cache included 48 stolen Treasury checks valued at approximately $2,555,417, comprising tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security benefits. Federal investigators report that Mr. Obayuwana successfully cashed eight of these specific checks, totaling about $1.7 million. He is now charged with nine counts of bank fraud, three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks, and one count of aggravated identity theft, remaining in federal custody after his arrest.
Mr. Vu, who was arrested Thursday, is accused of attempting to cash at least six Treasury checks with a total value of $2.15 million. He successfully cashed two tax refund checks worth $772,159. The indictment further alleges Mr. Vu cashed two separate cashier’s checks, each valued at $250,000, at an Anaheim bank. Money from one of these was purportedly used to purchase a Range Rover, while the second was used to pay Ms. Murrillo. Mr. Vu faces charges including five counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks, four counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Ms. Murrillo is accused of attempting to cash at least two checks worth $60,193, successfully cashing one for $31,405. She is expected to surrender to federal authorities in Los Angeles on Monday and is charged with one count of delivering stolen Treasury checks. The multi-county investigation highlights the reach of alleged financial fraud across Southern California.
