Saipan Woman Jailed 71 Months for Bitcoin Fraud That Targeted Elderly Women in Guam and CNMI

TLDR:

• Saipan woman Yuki Inos was sentenced to 71 months in prison for wire fraud targeting older women.
• Yuki falsely posed as a wealthy Bitcoin investor to solicit funds from trusting elderly victims.
• The scheme extended from Guam and Saipan to victims in Washington and California after 2022.
• Courts ordered $769,355.67 in restitution plus a $684,848.34 criminal forfeiture judgment.

Federal court has sentenced a Saipan woman to prison for running a crypto fraud scheme. Sze Man Yu Inos, known as “Yuki,” age 30, received 71 months in federal prison on April 23, 2026.

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands handed down the sentence.

The crypto fraud operation targeted older women across Guam, Saipan, Washington, and California, resulting in massive financial losses for dozens of victims.

Crypto Fraud Scheme Preyed on Older Women in Guam and Saipan

The crypto fraud began between November 2020 and January 2022 across Guam and Saipan. Yuki approached older women in both locations and worked to befriend them deliberately.

She falsely claimed to come from a wealthy Chinese family and said she owned several businesses. She also posed as a highly successful Bitcoin investor to appear credible and financially established.

To win the trust of her targets, Yuki treated them to expensive meals and gave them lavish gifts. She shared invented personal problems to create emotional closeness with each woman she approached.

She repeatedly told her victims, “You are like my mom,” to deepen the personal connection she was building. These tactics were designed to lower their guard before requesting money.

Once the women trusted her, Yuki began soliciting funds and Bitcoin investments under false pretenses. She used the fabricated image of a profitable crypto investor to convince victims the investments were legitimate.

The entire operation was structured to extract as much money as possible from each target.

The court ordered Yuki to pay $769,355.67 in restitution to her victims. A criminal forfeiture personal money judgment of $684,848.34 was also entered against her.

Additionally, she must serve three years of supervised release and complete 100 hours of community service upon release.

Federal Authorities Condemn Crypto Fraud Extending Beyond the Marianas

After leaving the Mariana Islands, Yuki expanded the crypto fraud to victims in Washington and California. She continued running the scheme even while her criminal case was already pending before the court.

U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson addressed this directly, stating, “Criminals engaged in affinity fraud prey on our willingness to trust others.”

He confirmed the defendant targeted older women across multiple jurisdictions, causing substantial financial losses, and noted the punishment was well-deserved.

FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter described the defendant as someone who built a career entirely on deception. He stated, “The defendant built a career out of deception, leaving a trail of financial ruin stretching across several states and impacting dozens of innocent victims.”

Porter further noted that Yuki forged a federal judge’s signature to facilitate parts of her scheme. That act, he stated, reflected “complete contempt for both the victims she exploited and the rule of law.”

Anderson further noted that Yuki continued her scams while the original case was still pending in court. That persistence across state lines demonstrated a deliberate and calculated disregard for legal consequences.

Porter also confirmed the FBI remains committed to protecting citizens from criminals who profit through manipulation. His statement reinforced the agency’s resolve in pursuing affinity-based crypto fraud cases nationwide.

The FBI investigated the case throughout its duration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe prosecuted it for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.

A mandatory $200 special assessment fee was also included as part of the final sentence. The case serves as a clear reminder that crypto fraud carries serious federal consequences.

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