An aspiring Los Angeles-area rapper known as ColdheartedAC is now at the center of a major federal criminal case involving millions of dollars in allegedly stolen checks, including U.S. Treasury payments tied to tax refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security.
Federal prosecutors say the case involves more than $8.1 million in checks and a scheme that allegedly stretched from April 2022 through December 2023. Ada William Obayuwana, known professionally as “ColdheartedAC” and “AC,” was arrested alongside a widening case that also charges two other defendants.
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ColdheartedAC Arrest: What Federal Prosecutors Say Happened in the $8.1 Million Check Scheme
Obayuwana, 31, of Quartz Hill, California, was arrested on Aug. 26 and appeared in federal court in Los Angeles the same day, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He faces nine counts of bank fraud, three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The 25-count federal grand jury indictment also charges Albert Tai Vu, 28, of Westminster, and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, of San Diego.
According to prosecutors, the defendants allegedly obtained and possessed more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks along with hundreds of other checks belonging to individuals and businesses. Collectively, those checks were worth more than $8.1 million.
The Treasury checks allegedly included tax refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security Administration payments. Prosecutors claim the defendants forged endorsements or altered names and addresses to obtain money intended for other recipients.
They also allegedly opened bank accounts to receive funds and, in some cases, used business documents designed to mimic victims’ names and identifying information. The alleged proceeds were deposited into bank and credit-union accounts across Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
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Official case timeline
| Time | Event | Official detail |
| April 2022–December 2023 | Alleged scheme period | Prosecutors say the conduct occurred during this period |
| Aug. 26 | Obayuwana arrested | Appeared in federal court in Los Angeles |
| Aug. 27 | Vu arrested | Expected to make his initial federal court appearance |
| Aug. 28 | DOJ announcement | Indictment publicly announced |
| Aug. 31 | Murrillo expected to surrender | Expected to report to federal authorities in Los Angeles |
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What prosecutors allege ColdheartedAC personally did
Between April 2022 and December 2023, prosecutors allege Obayuwana attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax-refund checks worth approximately $382,109 combined.
One of those checks was allegedly successfully cashed, with approximately $229,109 withdrawn from funds held by banks.
The allegations became even more significant in December 2023. Prosecutors say Obayuwana had more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks inside his vehicle in Oceanside, California. Those checks were collectively worth more than $6.1 million.
Among them were 48 stolen U.S. Treasury checks valued at approximately $2,555,417, including payments connected to tax refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security benefits.
Federal prosecutors allege eight of those checks were successfully cashed for a combined value of approximately $1,701,507. However, the Justice Department did not allege that every check found in his possession was successfully cashed.
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The charges facing Albert Tai Vu and Cassandra Marie Murrillo
Vu is accused of attempting to cash at least six Treasury checks worth a combined $2,151,391. Prosecutors allege two tax-refund checks were successfully cashed for approximately $772,159.
He is also accused of conducting transactions involving two $250,000 cashier’s checks at a bank in Anaheim in April 2023. According to the indictment, the money came from a None to Lose LLC account and was derived from alleged unlawful activity.
One check was allegedly paid to a co-schemer’s LLC and later used to purchase a Range Rover. The second was paid to Murrillo.
Vu faces nine bank-fraud counts, five counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks, four counts of money laundering and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Murrillo is accused of attempting to cash at least two checks worth a combined $60,193. Prosecutors say one was successfully cashed for $31,405. She faces nine bank-fraud counts and one additional count of delivering a stolen Treasury check.
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Why the $8.1 million figure needs context
The headline-grabbing $8.1 million figure does not mean prosecutors allege that all of that money was successfully stolen or cashed.
Instead, prosecutors say it represents the collective value of stolen checks allegedly obtained and possessed by the defendants, along with other checks belonging to individuals and businesses.
The indictment separately identifies alleged successful transactions, including approximately $229,109 linked to one Treasury check allegedly cashed by Obayuwana, approximately $1.7 million from eight checks allegedly cashed from those found in his possession in December 2023, and approximately $772,159 from two checks allegedly cashed by Vu.
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What happens next in the federal ColdheartedAC case?
Obayuwana remained in federal custody following his arrest and initial court appearance, with a detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 28. Vu was also arrested, while Murrillo was expected to surrender to federal authorities on Aug. 31.
The investigation involves the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Roldán of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting the case.
Bank fraud carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in federal prison per count. Relevant counterfeit Treasury check and money-laundering charges can carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years per count, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term per count upon conviction.
Those are statutory maximums, not predictions of the sentences the defendants would receive.
At this stage, the case remains at the allegation stage. The Justice Department explicitly stated: “An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
Disclaimer
This article is based on thorough research from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The defendants have been charged but have not been convicted. All allegations are based primarily on the federal indictment and Justice Department announcement, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice — Aspiring Rapper Among 3 Defendants Charged With Scheming to Cash More Than $8.1 Million in Stolen Checks
- Los Angeles Times — L.A. rapper arrested in $8.1-million stolen check scheme
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California
- U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
- Internal Revenue Service — Criminal Investigation
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
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