Financial Crime World

Guam Resident Sentenced for Financial Fraud Cases Worth over $1.5 Million

FHAGATNA, Guam - Shawn N. Anderson, the US Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Evan Daniel Montvel-Cohen, a 55-year-old resident of Tamuning, Guam, was sentenced to 82 months in prison by the District Court of Guam for committing financial fraud.

Crimes Committed

Montvel-Cohen was found guilty of:

  • Using false identification
  • Bank fraud

The court imposed a 5-year supervised release, a mandatory $200 special assessment fee, and ordered restitution in the amount of $74,826.67.

Identity Theft and Fraud against a Local Property Management Company

From November 2019 to January 2020, Montvel-Cohen defrauded a local property management company by:

  1. Assuming the identity of another person
  2. Leased a residential unit
  3. Used an altered driver’s license
  4. Forged an electronic signature on the lease agreement
  5. Bounced checks totaling nearly $20,000 in rent and deposit fees

Attempted Bank Fraud

From July 31, 2018, to August 18, 2018, Montvel-Cohen attempted to defraud the Bank of Guam:

  1. Deposited a $45,010 check from a joint Bank of Hawaii account into a Bank of Guam account
  2. Stopped the transfer
  3. Transferred $39,356.05 from the Bank of Guam account before the Bank of Hawaii check was returned
  4. Resulting in a loss of $39,356.05 for the Bank of Guam

Sentencing and Previous Fraud Schemes

During sentencing, the court determined that Montvel-Cohen had a history of engaging in long-term fraud schemes amounting to over $1.5 million in total losses.

US Attorney Anderson stated, “Montvel-Cohen has a lengthy history of fraud, which has left a trail of victims throughout the United States. I applaud the diligent efforts of the FBI in bringing this defendant to justice.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill added, “Fraud and identity theft are devastating to those who fall victim to these crimes. Many don’t even know they are affected until it is too late. The FBI will spare no effort or resource when investigating those responsible.”

Investigation and Prosecution

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Guam.