Hacker sentenced to 8 years in tax fraud case

A Nigerian national has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for his role in spearphishing attacks against US tax preparation businesses. Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, 40, also known as Chukwuemeka Victor Eletuo and So Kwan Leung, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud. He was extradited from France to the United States in August 2025.

According to court documents, Amachukwu and his accomplices used stolen personal information to file fraudulent tax and loan applications. They stole more than $3 million, authorities said. Between 2019 and 2021, the group targeted tax preparation businesses in New York, Texas, and other states, accessing computers without authorization and stealing tax and identifying information belonging to at least 800 customers.

Amachukwu allegedly obtained about $2.5 million in fraudulent tax refunds after seeking $8.4 million, and another $819,000 through fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

He also took part in a fake investment scheme involving purported standby letters of credit. The investments did not exist, and the fraudsters stole more than $7 million from multiple victims.

The court imposed 1 year of supervised release, ordered Amachukwu to pay $3.6 million in restitution, and ordered him to forfeit nearly $11 million.