SAIPAN, C.N.M.I. – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that on December 10, 2024, defendant Peonie Cabrera, age 40, from Saipan was sentenced by the Honorable Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to 18 months imprisonment for two counts of Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2), and two counts of Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The Court also ordered five years of supervised release following imprisonment, 100 hours of community service, $249,706 in restitution, and a mandatory $400.00 special assessment fee.
From January 2019 to August 2023, Cabrera served as the Executive Director of the Northern Mariana Bar Association (NMBA). Her duties included managing membership fees for the office. During that time, she diverted over $200,000 of NMBA funds through federally insured bank accounts for personal use. She presented fraudulent payroll documents and paychecks for signature by NMBA board members. These were drawn upon NMBA’s bank account and made payable to Cabrera. She also withdrew cash from NMBA’s savings account for personal use on 13 occasions. She further used NMBA’s bank accounts to make over 150 payments to her PayPal account for personal use. During 2020 through 2023, Cabrera also diverted payments from NMBA members via other electronic payment accounts for her personal use.
“Cabrera’s lengthy criminal conduct left a trail of victims,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Bar members should expect that their mandatory payments are put to good use in support of the legal profession. Additionally, these funds often provide critical support for many bar-related activities, including mock trials, that benefit our communities. Hopefully the sentence imposed by the Court will act as a deterrent for this defendant.”
“This sentencing is a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement agency partners are dedicated to rooting out corruption within our communities,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill, “Peonie Cabrera was in a trusted role when she stole over $150,000 from her colleagues for her own personal use. Let this serve as a reminder to all who are tempted to use their positions of power to unjustly enrich themselves. We will continue to investigate allegations of fraud at all levels.”
The investigation was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
