A federal grand jury indicted Edmund Abordo of Honolulu, Hawaii, for forging the signature of a federal judge and committing wire fraud.
According to the indictment, Abordo used the forged signature and a federal court seal to create a phony court order, which he then used to trick a woman into paying him thousands of dollars for bogus legal services.
The case began when the Clerk’s Office of the District Court, District of Hawaii, learned of the forged court order containing the signature and seal of U.S. Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson.
The FBI began investigating and discovered that Abordo had convinced the elderly victim to file a federal lawsuit challenging foreclosure of her home. He claimed to be a ‘non-licensed attorney’ who could help her prevent foreclosure.
Abordo demanded cash payments of $1,000 to $3,000 each time he met with the victim and convinced her that the federal judge assigned to the lawsuit had awarded her possession of her home.
However, the victim’s home had been lost to foreclosure and the federal lawsuit had been dismissed months earlier.
Abordo assured the victim that the forged court order was a genuine court document and that the judge’s signature on the forged order was genuine.
A U.S. Magistrate Judge detained Abordo temporarily and ordered him to appear before a U.S. District Judge for a motion hearing.
The charges against Abordo include:
18 U.S.C. § 1343, Wire Fraud: Maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, $250,000 fine, forfeiture, and restitution.
Abordo entered a plea of not guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Abordo’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 19, 2023.
Related Federal Cases
- Kenneth Ray Cleveland, Wire Fraud, California 2024 · Hawaii
- Robert S. Goldman, Wire Fraud, California 2024 · Hawaii
- Abraham Shafi, Wire Fraud, Securities Fraud, Obstruction, California 2026 · Hawaii
- James Seltzer, Securities Fraud Scheme, California 2024 · Hawaii
- Newton Kaleo DeLeon, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, Hawaii 2024 · Hawaii
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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