Title: “Northern Mariana Islands Resident Sentenced for Identity Theft and Bank Fraud Schemes Valued at over $1.5 million”
Evan Daniel Montvel-Cohen Sentenced for Fraudulent Activities
Fhagatña, Northern Mariana Islands — In a hearing at the District Court of Guam, Evan Daniel Montvel-Cohen, a 55-year-old resident of Tamuning, Guam, was sentenced to 82 months in prison for engaging in two separate fraud schemes that resulted in over $1.5 million in losses.
Charges and Sentence
Montvel-Cohen was charged with:
- Use of a Means of Identification in Furtherance of Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(7)
- Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344
The court also ordered:
- Five years supervised release
- Mandatory $200 special assessment fees
- Restitution payments of $74,826.67
Fraud Schemes
Property Management Company Scam
Starting in November 2019, Montvel-Cohen orchestrated a scheme to defraud a Guam property management company. He used a manipulated image of a Guam driver’s license bearing another individual’s name and date of birth to enter into a residential lease agreement. Montvel-Cohen also used an email address created in the victim’s name to sign the lease digitally. After gaining possession of a residential unit, he failed to pay rent or deposit fees, resulting in an approximate $20,000 loss for the company.
Bank of Guam Fraud
From July 31, 2018, to August 18, 2018, Montvel-Cohen perpetrated another fraudulent act on the Bank of Guam. He deposited a $45,010 check, originating from a joint Bank of Hawaii account, into his and another individual’s Bank of Guam account. Montvel-Cohen arranged for a stop payment order to be placed on the Bank of Hawaii check, and subsequently, $39,356.50 was transferred from the Bank of Guam account. Consequently, the Bank of Hawaii check was returned, leading to a significant $39,356.50 loss for the financial institution.
Prolonged Series of Fraudulent Activities
At the sentencing, the court determined, with clear and convincing evidence, that Montvel-Cohen had engaged in a prolonged series of fraudulent activities resulting in actual and intended losses exceeding $1.5 million.
Remarks from Law Enforcement
- U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson: “Montvel-Cohen has a long history of fraudulent acts, leaving a wake of traumatized victims across the United States. I hope this sentence will serve as a deterrent, preventing him from future offenses. I commend the FBI’s unwavering commitment to apprehending this defendant.”
- FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill: “Identity theft and fraud are destructive crimes; victims often aren’t even aware that they’ve been exploited until it’s too late. The FBI remains steadfast in our resolve to bring those responsible to justice and protect our communities.”
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Petersburg represented the prosecution.