Los Angeles rapper arrested in alleged $8.1 million stolen Treasury check scheme

Federal prosecutors have indicted Ada William Obayuwana, a 31-year-old Los Angeles rapper who performs under the name “ColdheartedAC,” on nine counts of bank fraud. He is charged together with 28-year-old Albert Tai Vu of Westminster and 31-year-old Cassandra Marie Murrillo of San Diego for possessing more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks valued at over $8.1 million. The indictment alleges the group forged endorsements to cash checks that included tax refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security Administration payments from April 2022 through December 2023.

Vu is accused of laundering two tax-refund checks worth over $772,000, while Obayuwana allegedly collected nearly $1.7 million from eight checks in December 2023. Additional charges include delivering stolen Treasury checks and aggravated identity theft. The Justice Department released the filing on Friday, noting the defendants opened bank accounts to receive the illicit proceeds. Obayuwana has a sizable Instagram following and has posted images alongside boxer Floyd Weather.