Ada William Obayuwana, an aspiring rapper known by the names ColdheartedAC and AC, has been charged in a federal case involving an alleged stolen-check scheme worth more than $8.1 million.
Federal prosecutors announced the case on August 28, 2026, saying Obayuwana and two other defendants were named in a 25-count grand jury indictment. The allegations involve stolen U.S. Treasury checks and hundreds of other checks belonging to individuals and businesses.
The case has attracted attention because of the scale of the alleged fraud and Obayuwana’s connection to the music industry.
Who Is Ada William Obayuwana?
Ada William Obayuwana is a 31-year-old aspiring rapper from Quartz Hill, California.
He is also known by the stage names ColdheartedAC and AC.
Public information about his personal and music career is relatively limited compared with the amount of attention surrounding the current federal case. What is established from federal authorities is that Obayuwana was charged alongside two other Southern California residents in connection with an alleged stolen-check operation.
It is important to distinguish between an indictment and a conviction. The charges against Obayuwana are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless the government proves him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What Is the Ada William Obayuwana Indictment About?
The Ada William Obayuwana indictment is a 25-count federal grand jury case alleging that three defendants illegally obtained and possessed more than 50 stolen U.S. Treasury checks as well as hundreds of other checks belonging to individuals and businesses.
According to federal prosecutors, the checks had a combined value of more than $8.1 million.
The alleged activity took place from at least April 2022 through December 2023, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants attempted to cash the stolen checks at financial institutions throughout Southern California. Some of the Treasury checks involved:
- Federal tax refunds
- Veterans’ benefits
- Social Security Administration benefits
- Other government-issued payments
The indictment alleges that endorsements were forged and that names and addresses were altered to facilitate the alleged scheme.
What Charges Does Ada William Obayuwana Face?
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Obayuwana faces 13 charges in the federal indictment:
- Nine counts of bank fraud
- Three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks
- One count of aggravated identity theft
The nine bank-fraud charges are part of the charges shared among the three defendants.
The additional charges differ depending on the defendant’s alleged conduct.
What Does the Indictment Allegedly Say About Obayuwana?
Federal prosecutors allege that Obayuwana personally attempted to cash at least three Treasury tax-refund checks during the period covered by the indictment.
According to prosecutors, those three checks had a combined value of approximately $382,109.
The government further alleges that one of those checks was successfully cashed and that approximately $229,109 was subsequently withdrawn.
These are allegations contained in the government’s case and have not been established as facts through a conviction.
What Happened in December 2023?
One of the more significant allegations concerning Obayuwana relates to a December 2023 traffic stop in Oceanside, California.
According to the indictment, authorities found more than 100 stolen or fraudulent checks in his vehicle, with a combined value exceeding $6.1 million.
The checks allegedly included 48 stolen U.S. Treasury checks worth approximately $2.56 million.
Federal authorities further allege that eight of those Treasury checks had already been successfully cashed, with a combined value of approximately $1.7 million.
The alleged discovery is an important part of the government’s case against Obayuwana.
How Did the Alleged Check Scheme Work?
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly obtained stolen checks and then used different methods to attempt to convert them into money.
Prosecutors allege that they:
- Obtained stolen Treasury and other checks.
- Forged endorsements on some checks.
- Altered names or addresses on checks.
- Used bank accounts to receive funds.
- Attempted to cash the checks at financial institutions.
- Used stolen identities in connection with some of the alleged bank-fraud activity.
The Treasury checks allegedly included government payments such as tax refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security benefits.
Who Are the Other Defendants?
Obayuwana is one of three people named in the indictment.
Albert Tai Vu
Albert Tai Vu, 28, of Westminster, is charged with nine counts of bank fraud, five counts involving delivery of stolen Treasury checks, four counts of money laundering and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Prosecutors allege that Vu attempted to cash at least six Treasury checks worth a combined $2.15 million and successfully cashed two tax-refund checks totaling $772,159.
Cassandra Marie Murrillo
Cassandra Marie Murrillo, 31, of San Diego, is charged with nine counts of bank fraud and one additional count involving delivery of a stolen Treasury check.
According to prosecutors, she allegedly attempted to cash at least two checks totaling $60,193 and successfully cashed one worth $31,405. (Department of Justice)
When Was Ada William Obayuwana Arrested?
Obayuwana was arrested on August 26, 2026, according to federal authorities.
He made his initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles and remained in federal custody.
A federal court calendar confirms that a detention hearing was scheduled for August 28 in the case, identified as United States v. Ada William Obayuwana.
Is Ada William Obayuwana in Jail?
Yes. Federal prosecutors said Obayuwana remained in federal custody following his arrest.
The case is still pending, meaning his detention should not be confused with a criminal conviction.
What Could Happen to Ada William Obayuwana If Convicted?
The potential penalties depend on the individual counts for which a defendant might ultimately be convicted.
The Justice Department says bank fraud carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in federal prison for each count.
Certain stolen Treasury check and money-laundering-related offenses carry statutory maximums of up to 10 years, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two-year federal prison sentence for each count.
These are statutory maximums, not predictions of the sentence Obayuwana would receive if convicted.
What Agencies Are Investigating the Case?
Several federal agencies are involved in the investigation.
They include:
- U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
- Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Ada William Obayuwana Indictment: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Ada William Obayuwana |
| Age | 31 |
| Location | Quartz Hill, California |
| Stage names | ColdheartedAC, AC |
| Other defendants | Albert Tai Vu and Cassandra Marie Murrillo |
| Indictment | 25 counts |
| Alleged value of checks | More than $8.1 million |
| Alleged period | April 2022–December 2023 |
| Treasury checks | More than 50 |
| Checks allegedly found in vehicle | More than 100 |
| Obayuwana’s charges | 9 bank fraud, 3 stolen Treasury check, 1 aggravated identity theft |
| Current status | Federal criminal case pending |
The information above comes primarily from the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of the indictment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ada William Obayuwana?
Ada William Obayuwana is a 31-year-old aspiring rapper from Quartz Hill, California, who uses the names ColdheartedAC and AC. He is currently facing federal charges in connection with an alleged stolen-check scheme.
What is Ada William Obayuwana charged with?
He faces nine counts of bank fraud, three counts of delivering stolen Treasury checks and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to federal prosecutors.
What is the Ada William Obayuwana indictment about?
The indictment alleges that Obayuwana and two co-defendants participated in a scheme involving more than $8.1 million in stolen checks, including more than 50 U.S. Treasury checks.
How much money is involved in the alleged scheme?
Federal prosecutors say the stolen checks and other checks involved in the alleged scheme totaled more than $8.1 million.
Was Ada William Obayuwana arrested?
Yes. Federal authorities say Obayuwana was arrested on August 26, 2026, and remained in federal custody.
Is Ada William Obayuwana convicted?
No. He has been indicted and charged, but the case is still pending. An indictment is an allegation, and Obayuwana is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What happened to the other defendants?
Albert Tai Vu was also arrested, while Cassandra Marie Murrillo was expected to surrender to federal authorities, according to the Justice Department’s announcement.
What is ColdheartedAC’s real name?
The federal indictment identifies ColdheartedAC as Ada William Obayuwana.
Latest Update on Ada William Obayuwana
The latest confirmed information is that Ada William Obayuwana remains involved in a pending federal criminal case following his August 2026 arrest and indictment.
The case centers on prosecutors’ allegations that he and two other defendants participated in an operation involving stolen Treasury checks and other checks valued at more than $8.1 million.
At this stage, it is important to separate charges from proven facts. The federal government has presented allegations through a grand jury indictment, but the case has not resulted in a final conviction.
As the federal proceedings continue, future court hearings and filings should provide more information about the evidence, defense arguments and eventual outcome of the case.
