Financial Crime World

Three Defendants Sentenced in US District Court of Guam for Role in $2.6 Million Inheritance Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme in Northern Mariana Islands

Federal prosecutors announced the sentencing of four individuals involved in a complex advance fee and money laundering scheme that defrauded Guam-based investors of approximately $2.6 million. The scheme, which involved the falsely promised payment of an inheritance, saw defendants obtaining payments from victims before they could receive any funds.

Sentencing of the Defendants

On August 15, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge John C. Coughenour handed down the following sentences:

  1. Sally Cruz Roberto: A 56-year-old resident of Santa Rita, Guam, was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, $1,030,990 in restitution, a $3,900 mandatory assessment fee, and a $1,030,990 forfeiture money judgment. Roberto was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 38 counts of wire fraud by a jury. As part of the criminal enterprise, Roberto received $1,030,990 from victim funds and funneled these monies to co-conspirators’ U.S. bank accounts.

  2. Monique Jones: A 49-year-old woman from Dallas, Texas, received a 48-month imprisonment term, three years of supervised release, $578,130 in restitution, a $2,700 mandatory assessment fee, and a $1,111,280 forfeiture money judgment. A jury found Jones guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 25 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Jones played a key role in the conspiracy by receiving, withdrawing, and transferring victim funds to other co-conspirators’ bank accounts in the U.S. and Nigeria.

  3. Mekayda D. Jones: A 24-year-old Dallas, Texas resident, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, $387,160 in restitution, a $1,600 mandatory assessment fee, and a $801,210 forfeiture money judgment. Jones was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 14 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. As part of her role in the scheme, Jones controlled bank accounts linked to shell corporations and received, withdrew, and transferred victim funds to her co-conspirators.

  4. Okechukwu F. Iwuji: A 38-year-old Nigerian citizen who previously resided in Orlando, Florida, was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, $475,710 in restitution, a $100 mandatory assessment fee, and a $475,710 forfeiture money judgment. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 17, 2023. Iwuji obtained victim funds from Roberto and other co-conspirators and transferred some of those funds to third-party Nigerian bank accounts.

Quotes from Prosecutors and the FBI

United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Shawn N. Anderson, commented, “This far-ranging conspiracy preyed on 60 victims, nearly all of whom live in Guam. These scams are difficult to investigate and prosecute due to their interstate and transnational nature. Our success in this matter is the result of a team effort across multiple jurisdictions, with outstanding leadership by prosecutor Marivic P. David. We will continue to pursue the collection of restitution for those harmed by the defendants’ conduct.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill stated, “This sentence should make the public aware that inheritance-related scams will be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you feel you have been scammed, please contact the FBI at (800) 225-5324 or report it to tips.fbi.gov.”

Investigation and Assistance

The investigation, led by the FBI Guam Resident Agency, received assistance from FBI field offices in Dallas and Atlanta, Homeland Security Investigations in Orlando, Florida, the U.S. Secret Service in Dallas, and the Guam Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Marivic P. David, First Assistant United States Attorney, and Criminal Chief in the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.