Los Angeles Rapper ColdheartedAC Arrested in $8.1 Million Stolen-Check Scheme

Coldhearted, indeed.

Aspiring Los Angeles-area rapper ColdheartedAC was arrested Wednesday and charged with allegedly participating in an $8.1 million stolen-check scheme spanning southern California.

The 31-year-old Quartz Hill artist, whose real name is Ada William Obayuwana and who also performs under the name AC, was federally indicted alongside two others, Albert Tai Vu, 28, of Westminster, and Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, of San Diego, the Department of Justice announced Friday.

The 25-count federal indictment alleges the trio obtained more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks and hundreds of checks belonging to individuals and businesses, then cashed or attempted to cash them.

Between April 2022 and December 2023, the defendants allegedly targeted checks containing tax refunds, Social Security payments and veterans’ benefits. Investigators say they forged endorsements, altered names and addresses and used fake business documents to impersonate people and companies connected to the checks.

The alleged scheme stretched across Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, where the defendants allegedly opened bank accounts to deposit the stolen checks and move the money.

Obayuwana allegedly attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax-refund checks worth a combined $382,109 and successfully cashed one, withdrawing $229,109, according to federal prosecutors.

He is accused of carrying more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks worth over $6.1 million in his car when authorities found them in Oceanside in December 2023. Among the checks were 48 Treasury checks worth about $2.56 million, including tax refunds and federal benefit payments. Investigators allege eight of those checks had already been cashed for around $1.7 million.

The rapper has more than 338,000 Instagram followers and more than 3,000 YouTube subscribers. He often showcases his lavish lifestyle online, including lots of jewelry and a photo with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.

Co-defendant Albert Tai Vu allegedly attempted to cash at least six Treasury checks totaling $2.15 million and successfully cashed two tax-refund checks worth $772,159. He also allegedly cashed two $250,000 cashier’s checks at an Anaheim bank, using proceeds from one to purchase a Range Rover and money from the other to pay Murrillo, who was also charged in the alleged scheme.

Murrillo allegedly attempted to cash two checks totaling $60,193 and successfully cashed one worth $31,405.

Obayuwana remains in federal custody and faces nine counts of bank fraud, three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Vu, who was arrested Thursday, faces bank fraud, money-laundering, stolen check and identity theft charges.

Murillo, who is expected to surrender to federal authorities in Los Angeles on Monday, faces an additional charge of delivering stolen Treasury checks.

If convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count, up to 10 years for each counterfeit Treasury check and money laundering count, plus a mandatory additional two-year sentence for each aggravated identity theft count, according to the Justice Department.