Overview

• Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, 39, was flown from France to the Southern District of New York on August 4 and appeared before a magistrate judge on August 5.
• He is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, two counts each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, carrying potential sentences of up to 47 years plus mandatory prison time.
• Prosecutors allege that between 2019 and 2021 he and co-conspirator Kingsley Uchelue Utulu used spearphishing emails to breach U.S. tax preparation firms and harvest thousands of customers’ personal data.
• The indictment says the conspirators sought about $8.4 million in fraudulent tax refunds—securing roughly $2.5 million—and obtained at least $819,000 through falsified SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan claims.
• He is also accused of running a separate fraud scheme by offering fake standby letters of credit, pocketing millions from investors.