A Nigerian cybercriminal who helped steal millions of dollars from US taxpayers has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison. The case involved targeted phishing attacks against tax preparation companies, the theft of customer identities, and fraudulent applications for government payments.
Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, 40, received the sentence on October 19, 2026, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud. He had been extradited from France to the United States in August 2025 to face charges connected to several financial fraud operations.
Between 2019 and 2021, Amachukwu worked with other individuals, including co-defendant Kingsley Uchelue Utulu, to compromise tax preparation businesses in New York, Texas, and other states. The attackers used spearphishing emails to gain unauthorized access to company computers and obtain sensitive financial and personal information belonging to at least 800 customers.
The stolen identities enabled the criminals to submit fraudulent tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. Prosecutors said the group requested approximately $8.4 million in refunds and successfully collected at least $2.5 million.
The conspirators also exploited the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which provided financial assistance to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using stolen personal information, they submitted fraudulent loan applications and obtained approximately $819,000 in additional payments.
Investigators also connected Amachukwu to a separate investment fraud scheme. He and his associates impersonated wealthy foreign businessmen and persuaded victims to invest in supposedly valuable standby letters of credit. The investments were fictitious, allowing the criminals to obtain more than $7 million from unsuspecting investors.
The court ordered Amachukwu to pay approximately $3.65 million in restitution and forfeit nearly $10.85 million. He will also serve one year of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Utulu, who participated in the attacks against tax preparation businesses, was separately sentenced to five years in prison in June 2026 after being arrested in the United Kingdom.
US Attorney Jamie McDonald said Amachukwu had believed operating from overseas would protect him from prosecution. However, the investigation ultimately led to his extradition and conviction.