An extensive check fraud operation targeting the U.S. Treasury has been cracked open with federal charges levied against three individuals, as per an unsealed indictment in Utah. Pitshou Yunga Kafuku, 42, Beni Musogo Kahwara, 25, and Hugues Simo-Fotue, 42, face multiple charges, including bank fraud conspiracy and money laundering, related to a scheme that defrauded banks and siphoned over $3.1 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The indictment, revealed on April 22, describes a calculated scam where counterfeit, stolen, and fraudulent checks were used in a number of U.S. banks. The alleged fraudsters not only hit the U.S. Treasury but also rifled through checks meant for businesses and individuals. The scheme ran from January 2022 until February 2025, with the defendants quickly shuffling any successful deposits around, often sending substantial sums to businesses located in China and Singapore.
More Info