By Charles Pemu 
A 39-year-old Nigerian national, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, has been extradited to the United States from France to face multiple federal charges involving wire fraud, cyber intrusion, and aggravated identity theft allegations that could result in a maximum 47-year prison sentence if convicted.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that Amachukwu made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Gardephe in the Southern District of New York, following his extradition on Monday. The charges stem from a sweeping cybercrime scheme that targeted U.S. tax preparation businesses and exploited government pandemic relief programmes.
According to DOJ officials, Amachukwu and unnamed co-conspirators allegedly orchestrated a 2019 cyberattack campaign using spear phishing emails to gain unauthorized access to the digital infrastructure of several tax preparation businesses across the United States including firms in New York and Texas.
Once inside the systems, the conspirators allegedly harvested the personal identification data of numerous individuals. The stolen identities were then used to submit fraudulent tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as well as to file bogus applications to the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programme.
Prosecutors say the group sought at least $8.4 million in fake tax refunds and successfully obtained approximately $2.5 million. In a separate fraud involving the EIDL programme, the conspirators reportedly secured an additional $819,000 in fraudulent payouts.
Amachukwu now faces a six-count federal indictment, comprising:
- One count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions (maximum 5 years)
- Two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (each carrying up to 20 years)
- Two counts of wire fraud (each also carrying up to 20 years)
- One count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years
While the statutory maximum sentence totals 47 years, the actual sentencing will be determined by the presiding judge under federal guidelines, the DOJ clarified.
Second Indictment: Investment Fraud Scheme
In a stunning twist, the DOJ further disclosed that Amachukwu is separately indicted in connection with an alleged investment fraud scheme, where he reportedly duped victims into investing in fictitious standby letters of credit.
“Amachukwu claimed to offer high-yield investment opportunities backed by valuable financial instruments,” the statement read. “In reality, the letters of credit never existed, and the defendant misappropriated millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors.”
Extradition and International Cooperation
The DOJ credited French authorities for their cooperation in facilitating Amachukwu’s arrest and extradition. His removal to the U.S. underscores the increasing effectiveness of international law enforcement partnerships in tackling transnational cyber and financial crime.
While the investigation remains ongoing, the case serves as a stark reminder of how sophisticated cybercriminals can weaponize technology and international borders—only to eventually face justice under the long arm of the law.