Nigerian National Sentenced to Eight Years for Hacking and Fraud Scheme
Summary
A Nigerian national received an eight-year sentence after pleading guilty to computer intrusion and wire fraud conspiracy. Prosecutors said the scheme involved hacked tax firms, stolen data from at least 800 business customers, and millions of dollars in fraud.
Key points
- Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud.
- Prosecutors said the scheme ran from 2019 to 2023 and involved hacking U.S. tax preparation businesses, filing false tax returns, and soliciting money for nonexistent investments.
- Court records say the conspirators stole tax and personal data belonging to at least 800 business customers.
- In one 2021 incident, conspirators sent a spearfishing email to an employee at a New York tax preparation business, infecting the firm’s systems with malware.
- Prosecutors attributed more than $7 million in investment fraud, about $2.5 million in fraudulent tax returns, and $819,000 in fraudulent Small Business Administration loan payouts to the scheme.
- A judge ordered Amachukwu to pay nearly $3.65 million in restitution and forfeit almost $10.85 million. He was arrested in France in 2023 and extradited to the United States in 2025.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Criminal sentencing for a long-running hacking, tax fraud, and investment fraud scheme.
- Impact
- Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu was sentenced to eight years in prison. A federal judge ordered nearly $3.65 million in restitution and almost $10.85 million in forfeiture. Prosecutors said the scheme generated more than $7 million through fraudulent investment schemes, about $2.5 million in fraudulent tax returns, and $819,000 in fraudulent Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan payouts. At least 800 business customers had tax and personal data stolen.
MITRE ATT&CK
T1059 · Command and Scripting InterpreterThe article reports hacking into tax preparation businesses but does not describe a specific command or scripting technique.T1566.001 · Spearphishing AttachmentThe article says members of the conspiracy sent a spearphishing email to an employee of a tax preparation business.
People
Countries
FranceHe was arrested in France in July 2023 and extradited to the United States in August 2025.NigeriaAmachukwu, his alleged co-conspirator Kingsley Uchelue Utulu and other alleged Nigeria-based co-conspirators also stole the tax and personal data of at least 800 business customers after hacking into tax businessesUnited StatesHe was arrested in France in July 2023 and extradited to the United States in August 2025.