Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, a 32-year-old resident of Sacramento, has admitted to an elaborate bank fraud and identity theft scheme that netted her high-end vehicles and cash. The U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today that Gonzales Grado pleaded guilty to the charges, setting the stage for a potential sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, between Aug. 7, 2022, and Oct. 3, 2022, Gonzales Grado used stolen identities to secure loans totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. She obtained a car loan for a Mercedes-Benz, another for a Jaguar, and a personal loan under the guise of ‘medical expenses.’
Her deception didn’t stop there. In an account linked to the loans, she deposited checks stolen and altered in the victim’s name. She also exploited the victim’s identity to open a mobile phone account, lease an apartment, and even avoid a traffic citation by presenting the victim’s driver’s license.
Gonzales Grado was apprehended when she arrived at a meeting with law enforcement about her probation terms, driving the Jaguar fraudulently obtained through her scheme. During the search of the vehicle, authorities discovered a treasure trove of identification documents and credit cards in the victim’s name.
The investigation leading to Gonzales Grado’s capture was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is handling the prosecution.
Scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 6, 2026, Gonzales Grado faces a maximum penalty of $1 million in fines and up to 30 years behind bars, not to mention restitution of up to $150,000. Her sentence will ultimately be determined by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez, taking into account all applicable factors and federal guidelines.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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