FBI arrests Nigerians for $50m fraud in the US

The FBI has arrested two Nigerian nationals, Nosakhare Nobore and Solomon Aluko, in the United States for creating a so-called “Fraud Bible” that guided a massive scam targeting American citizens and the government.

The duo, based in New Jersey, allegedly stole $50 million through a nationwide scheme exploiting COVID-19 relief programs, as detailed in a four-count indictment unsealed on March 20, 2025, by Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky of the Southern District of New York.

According to the indictment, Nobore and Aluko, along with four co-conspirators—Jorge Gonzalez, Leonard Ujkic, Nicholas Pappas, and Shan Anand—orchestrated a four-year fraud operation from 2021 to 2025, aiming to pilfer $80 million from government funds, banks, and individuals.

The group succeeded in siphoning off $50 million by stealing identities and using them to open fraudulent bank accounts.

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A key member of the scheme, a bank teller at a major U.S. bank, reportedly assisted by customizing accounts to facilitate their illicit activities. The criminals focused on counterfeiting or fraudulently obtaining U.S. Treasury checks tied to COVID-19 relief efforts, including the Employee Retention Credit and Qualified Sick Leave Wages credit.

These checks, intended to aid Americans during the pandemic, were deposited into sham accounts before the funds were withdrawn in cash or rerouted to other accounts controlled by the group.

To amplify their efforts, the defendants created a Telegram channel named “2021 Fraud Bible,” where they shared fraud techniques and instructions with others. Podolsky condemned the exploitation of crisis-relief programs, stating, “This Office will not tolerate such schemes, and we will work with law enforcement to ensure accountability.”

The charges against Nobore, Aluko, and their accomplices include conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud (up to 30 years in prison), money laundering conspiracy (up to 20 years), conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government (up to 10 years), and aggravated identity theft (a mandatory two-year sentence).

The case underscores the government’s resolve to combat fraud targeting critical public support systems.