Woman Sentenced to 71 Months for Bitcoin Investment Fraud

A federal court sentenced Sze Man Yu Inos, 30, to 71 months in prison for orchestrating a Bitcoin investment fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across multiple U.S. states and territories. According to prosecutors, Inos befriended older women in Saipan and Guam between November 2020 and January 2022, falsely claiming to come from a wealthy Chinese family, own multiple businesses, and possess success in Bitcoin investing to gain their trust before defrauding them.

Scheme Details and Criminal Conduct

Ios, also known as “Yuki,” employed multiple deceptive tactics in her fraud scheme. She forged a federal judge’s signature to facilitate her crimes, according to prosecutors. The scheme’s reach extended beyond the initial territory: even after leaving the Marianas, Inos continued defrauding victims in Washington and California while her federal case was pending. This cross-state nature of her crimes escalated the federal prosecution and contributed to the severity of her sentence.

Restitution and Penalties

The court ordered Inos to pay $769,355.67 in restitution to victims and imposed a criminal forfeiture judgment of $684,848.34. Additional penalties included three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $200 special assessment fee.

Law Enforcement Response

FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter 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. By forging a federal judge’s signature to facilitate her schemes, the defendant acted with complete contempt for both the victims she exploited and the rule of law. The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to protect our citizens from criminals who profit through such heartless and brazen manipulation.”

United States Attorney Shawn Anderson added: “Criminals engaged in affinity fraud prey on our willingness to trust others. This defendant chose to target older women across multiple jurisdictions, resulting in substantial financial losses. She continued her scams while this case was pending. The punishment imposed by the court is well-deserved.”