Guam Victims Swindled in $2.6M Inheritance Scam

A network of scammers bilked vulnerable residents of Guam out of $2.6 million with a classic inheritance hustle, federal prosecutors revealed this week. Four individuals – Sally Cruz Roberto, Monique Jones, Mekayda D. Jones, and Okechukwu F. Iwuji – have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the elaborate fraud and subsequent money laundering operation. The scheme preyed on the hope of financial gain, demanding upfront fees for promised inheritances that never materialized.

The con was simple, but effective. Victims were convinced they were on the verge of receiving a substantial inheritance, only to be hit with repeated requests for “fees” – legal costs, taxes, processing charges – that drained their bank accounts. The defendants didn’t deliver on the promised windfall, instead pocketing the money and funneling it through a web of accounts in the US and Nigeria. The FBI’s Guam Resident Agency spearheaded the investigation, exposing the scheme and bringing the perpetrators to account.

Sally Cruz Roberto, 56, of Santa Rita, Guam, received the stiffest sentence: 33 months behind bars, plus three years of supervised release, and a massive $1,030,990 in restitution. Roberto was the primary point of contact for many victims, directly obtaining over $1 million and wiring the funds to her co-conspirators. She was convicted on 39 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The feds say she was a key player in keeping the scam afloat.

Monique Jones, 49, of Dallas, Texas, landed a 48-month sentence and a $578,130 restitution order. Jones acted as a money mule, using bank accounts held in her name to receive and distribute victim funds. Her co-conspirator, Mekayda D. Jones, 24, also of Dallas, received 36 months and a $387,160 restitution order for the same role, utilizing shell corporations to mask the flow of illicit cash. Both were convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money.

The final defendant, Okechukwu F. Iwuji, 38, a Nigerian citizen formerly residing in Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty and received 45 months imprisonment and a $475,710 restitution order. Iwuji was responsible for receiving funds from the US-based co-conspirators and transferring a portion of the stolen money to bank accounts in Nigeria, completing the laundering process. He represents the international reach of these scams and the difficulty of recovering funds once they leave the country.

While the sentences offer some measure of accountability, the $2.6 million loss represents a devastating blow to the victims. Federal prosecutors are hopeful these convictions will serve as a warning: if something sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to disrupt these predatory schemes and protect vulnerable communities.