LA Rapper ColdheartedAC Indicted in $8.1M Stolen Check Scheme on August 31

Ada William Obayuwana, 31, a Quartz Hill rapper performing as ColdheartedAC, was arrested Wednesday and charged in a 25-count federal indictment alleging he and two others stole more than $8.1 million in checks across Southern California. The scheme involved more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks containing tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security payments, plus hundreds of other checks from individuals and businesses. Prosecutors say the trio forged endorsements, altered names and addresses, opened fraudulent bank accounts, and cashed the stolen funds between April 2022 and December 2023.

What Obayuwana is accused of

Obayuwana was arrested Wednesday and charged with nine counts of bank fraud, three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Co-defendants Albert Tai Vu, 28, of Westminster, and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, of San Diego, face similar charges. Vu also faces four counts of money laundering and two counts of aggravated identity theft. All three remain in federal custody or awaiting surrender.

The stolen checks and cash recovered

In December 2023, federal agents found more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks worth over $6.1 million in Obayuwana’s car during a stop in Oceanside. Among those were 48 stolen Treasury checks worth approximately $2.55 million in tax refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security benefits. Obayuwana successfully cashed eight of those checks, netting about $1.7 million. He also attempted to cash three Treasury tax refund checks totaling $382,109 and succeeded in cashing one for $229,109.

How the scheme operated

The defendants obtained stolen checks and forged endorsements or altered names and addresses to steal the funds. They opened bank accounts under their own names and the names of victims, using business documents to impersonate victims’ identities. Stolen funds were deposited at banks and credit unions across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, then withdrawn as cash, converted to cashier’s checks, or transferred to accounts the defendants controlled. Deposits occurred in Santa Clarita, Canoga Park, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Cypress, and San Diego.

What happens next

Obayuwana made his initial appearance in Los Angeles federal court Wednesday and remains in custody. His detention hearing was scheduled for Thursday. Vu was arrested Thursday and made his initial appearance Friday. Murrillo was expected to surrender to federal authorities Monday. All three defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted. The case remains under investigation regarding how the defendants originally obtained the stolen checks.

Final Thoughts

Three Southern California residents face serious federal charges in an $8.1 million check fraud scheme targeting government benefits and private accounts. Obayuwana, performing as ColdheartedAC, was arrested and remains in custody pending detention hearings. All defendants are presumed innocent.

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