Six Charged In $80 Million Covid-Relief Check Fraud Scheme In U.S.
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By Insider Lens, Apr 25, 2025 - Toronto
Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment against six individuals accused of orchestrating a sprawling check fraud and money laundering conspiracy that sought to steal approximately $80 million in government funds, including pandemic relief. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the defendants — SHAN ANAND, NOSAKHARE NOBORE, NICHOLAS PAPPAS, LEONARD UJKIC, SOLOMON ALUKO (a.k.a. 'D1 ReallyRich'), and JORGE GONZALEZ — allegedly operated a criminal enterprise from 2021 through 2025 that relied on stolen and counterfeit checks, fraudulent tax filings, and accounts opened with fake identities and shell companies.
COVID Relief Funds Among the Targets
Key aspects of the fraud scheme: • Many fraudulent checks originated from U.S. government COVID-19 relief programs • Programs targeted included Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and Qualified Sick Leave Wages (QSLW) • Defendants allegedly fabricated businesses to falsely claim these credits • Some checks were tied to other federal agencies like the VA and SSA • Additional checks were forged or stolen directly from the mail
Insider Access and 'Fraud Bible' Guidance
Notable elements of the operation: • A bank teller within the group manipulated internal processes • Members shared digital manuals titled '✅ 2021 Fraud Bible ✅' • Manuals contained tutorials on various fraud techniques • Defendants wore 'Bag Hunter' branded apparel during fraudulent withdrawals • Surveillance footage captured NOBORE at an ATM wearing the gear The 'Fraud Bible' documents were filled with tutorials on credit card scams, mobile payment fraud, and more.
The Charges and Potential Penalties
The six men face multiple charges with severe penalties: • Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud (up to 30 years in prison) • Conspiracy to commit money laundering (up to 20 years) • Conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government (up to 10 years) • Aggravated identity theft (mandatory 2-year sentence) While maximum sentences are defined by law, actual punishments will be determined by a judge at sentencing.
Government Officials Respond
Official statements on the case: • Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky: 'This Office will not tolerate the exploitation of programs designed to support the public in times of crisis.' • FBI Acting Assistant Director Leslie Backschies: Called it 'a multi-year check fraud scheme' targeting federal funds • IRS Criminal Investigations Chief Harry Chavis, Jr.: 'This gang of 'bag hunters' will now face justice. This time, the U.S. government were the hunter.'
Cross-Agency Investigation
The case resulted from collaborative efforts by: • The FBI • IRS-CI • U.S. Postal Inspection Service • NYPD It is being prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime and Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Units of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Ongoing Coverage and Call to Action
Insider Lens will continue following this story as it progresses through the courts and as authorities uncover the full scale of the fraud. If you have verified information about this case or similar fraud schemes or represent an agency fighting financial crime, please reach out to us at _info@insiderlens.org_ or _contact@insiderlens.org_. Stay alert to fraud trends and digital scams by following Insider Lens, your lens into truth, accountability, and justice.
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