In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Amachukwu to serve one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $3,647,629.39 in restitution and forfeit $10,846,634.39. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecution by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant US Attorney Daniel G. Nessim led the legal team in this case.
According to superseding indictments and court filings, Amachukwu, who also used the aliases Chukwuemeka Victor Eletuo and So Kwan Leung, began targeting US tax preparation businesses in or around 2019. Acting with co-conspirator Kingsley Uchelue Utulu and other Nigeria-based accomplices, the group allegedly used spear-phishing emails to gain unauthorized access to the electronic systems of firms located in New York, Texas, and other states. Prosecutors stated that the conspirators stole tax records and identifying information belonging to approximately 800 customers of these businesses.
The stolen data was allegedly used to file fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. Prosecutors said the group sought at least $8.4 million in fraudulent refunds and successfully obtained approximately $2.5 million. Furthermore, the conspirators exploited the stolen identities to submit fraudulent applications to the US Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, securing at least $819,000 in illicit payments.
Amachukwu was also charged with participation in a separate investment scam involving purported standby letters of credit. In this scheme, he allegedly impersonated a wealthy overseas financier to persuade US victims to invest in financial instruments that did not exist. Authorities stated that the fraudulent investment scheme generated more than $7 million in proceeds for Amachukwu and his co-conspirators. US Attorney Jamie McDonald noted that the defendant believed he was operating safely offshore, but emphasized that the sentence reflected the significant harm inflicted on victims and the public.
The case remains closed with the sentencing now in effect. Amachukwu is required to report to federal custody to begin serving his eight-year term, during which he must also comply with the financial forfeiture and restitution orders issued by the court.
