Saipan Woman Gets 71 Months for $769K Bitcoin Fraud

Sze Man Yu Inos, 30, was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison on April 23, 2026, after a jury convicted her of wire fraud tied to a $769,355.67 bitcoin scheme. Chief U.S. District Judge Ramona V. Manglona handed down the term in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. The court also imposed three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, $769,355.67 in restitution, a $200 special assessment and a criminal forfeiture money judgment of $684,848.34.

Prosecutors say the fraud ran from November 2020 through January 2022. Inos, who used the name Yuki, befriended older women in Saipan and Guam, paid for expensive meals, gave gifts and shared personal stories to build trust. She told victims she came from a wealthy family in China, owned multiple businesses and had profited from bitcoin investing, then solicited money and bitcoin investments.

Officials said she often told victims ‘You are like my mom’ before asking for funds. The scheme later reached victims in Washington and California. The FBI also alleges Inos forged a federal judge’s signature as part of efforts to further the fraud.

U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson described the case as an example of affinity fraud and warned that criminals exploit personal trust. FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter called the conduct ‘contempt for both the victims and the rule of law.’ The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Prosecutors said dozens of victims sustained financial losses. Court records show the prison term, restitution and forfeiture were ordered to address proceeds tied to the scheme.