A federal grand jury indicted an Atlanta man accused of creating fake businesses in an alleged seven-year fraud scheme involving Gangster Disciples members, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Onosemeraja Idodo-Umeh, 41, a native of Nigeria who is living in Atlanta, conspired with the purported gang members in the scheme using stolen identities, compromised credit card numbers and stolen and counterfeit checks, according to an 18-count indictment handed down Aug. 7.
“Idodo-Umeh allegedly moved a substantial amount of stolen money out of the United States to Nigeria, doing so with the help of gang members already indicted by this office,” U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said in a news release. “By prosecuting not only the gang members, but also those who allegedly reaped the financial benefit of their crimes, we will work to dismantle the entire criminal network.”
According to the indictment, Idodo-Umeh and his co-conspirators made credit card payments using stolen card numbers and forged checks written for tens of thousands of dollars. Idodo-Umeh allegedly funneled the money into bank accounts belonging to “a network of subordinates who he recruited and paid on commission,” the release said.
Authorities also allege Idodo-Umeh lied about his criminal history to immigration authorities to obtain citizenship.
Idodo-Umeh faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.
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