Aspiring Rapper Among 3 Charged in $8.1 Million Stolen Check Scheme
Ada William Obayuwana and two others face federal charges in an alleged scheme involving stolen Treasury checks; the case is undecided and they are presumed innocent.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 28, 2026, 7:56 p.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 30, 2026, 8:47 p.m. ET
Aspiring Rapper Among Three Charged in $8.1 Million Stolen Check Scheme
An aspiring rapper is among three defendants charged in a 25-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they illegally possessed more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks and hundreds of other checks totaling more than $8.1 million, the Justice Department announced. The announcement was reported by kesq.com on August 28, 2026, and by fox5dc.com on August 30, 2026. The matter is at the charging stage and has not been resolved; the allegations remain undecided.
Ada William Obayuwana, 31, also known as "ColdheartedAC," 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 faces 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.
According to the indictment, from at least April 2022 to December 2023, the defendants illegally obtained and possessed stolen checks, including more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks containing tax refunds, veterans' benefits, and Social Security Administration benefits. They allegedly forged endorsements, altered names and addresses, opened bank accounts to receive fraudulently transferred funds, and deposited stolen funds into accounts in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. The government alleges Obayuwana attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax refund checks worth approximately $382,109, successfully cashing one for about $229,109. In December 2023, he allegedly possessed in his car in Oceanside more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks worth more than $6.1 million, including 48 stolen Treasury checks worth approximately $2,555,417. Vu allegedly attempted to cash at least six Treasury checks worth $2,151,391 and successfully cashed two worth $772,159. Murillo allegedly attempted to cash at least two checks worth $60,193 and successfully cashed one worth $31,405.
Obayuwana was arrested and made his initial appearance in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday, with a detention hearing scheduled for the following day. Vu was arrested Thursday and was expected to appear in court that afternoon. Murillo was expected to surrender on Monday. An indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is ongoing and no verdict has been reached. If convicted, they face up to 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count, up to 10 years for each counterfeit Treasury check- and money laundering-related count, and a mandatory consecutive two-year term for each count of aggravated identity theft, according to kesq.com. Fox5dc.com reported the maximum for bank fraud as up to 30 years. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating.
Aug 28, 2026, 7:56 p.m. ETFirst report
Three Charged in Scheme to Cash More Than $8.1 Million in Stolen Checks
LOS ANGELES – An aspiring rapper is among three defendants charged in a 25-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they illegally possessed more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks and hundreds of other checks totaling more than $8.1 million, then cashed and attempted to cash them at lenders throughout Southern California, the Justice Department announced on August 28, 2026.
Ada William Obayuwana, 31, also known as “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 faces additional charges of delivering stolen Treasury checks and aggravated identity theft; Vu faces charges of delivering stolen Treasury checks, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft; Murillo faces an additional count of delivering stolen Treasury checks.
According to the indictment, from at least April 2022 to December 2023, the defendants obtained and possessed stolen checks, including Treasury checks containing tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security benefits. They allegedly forged endorsements, altered names and addresses, and opened bank accounts to receive fraudulently transferred funds. Obayuwana was arrested and made his initial appearance in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday; Vu was arrested Thursday; Murillo is expected to surrender Monday.
This case is at the charging stage. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The matter has not been decided by a jury or judge.
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First published.
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- Version 131 Aug 2026, 00:51current
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