Hagatña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Brenda Kinian, age 43, from Weno, Chuuk and a permanent resident of Guam, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court of Guam to serve 84 months in federal prison for committing Extortion by Wrongful Use of Threatened Force, Violence or Fear in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). She also received 36 months for Aiding and Abetting Extortion Under Pretense of Office and Employment, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 872, to run concurrently with the other sentence imposed. The Court also ordered a total of three years of supervised release, $450,000 in restitution to the victims, a forfeiture money judgment of $371,896, and a $200 mandatory assessment fee.
From April 2017 to May 2018, Brenda Kinian, took advantage of an elderly couple of Korean descent who owned an Agat convenience store. Kinian did this after unidentified individuals robbed and injured the wife. Kinian, who lived behind the store, told the couple that she knew someone from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) who could protect them from further crimes. Since the owners were traumatized by the robbery and violence, Kinian extorted cash from them as protection money. She also convinced them that FBI agents were protecting the store and the family, including their daughter who was a college student residing off-island. Kinian told them that some FBI agents and their family members were killed while protecting them, inducing the family to believe their own lives were in grave danger if they failed to pay her. During late 2017, Kinian persuaded the couple that their daughter should return home and would be better protected in Guam. Towards late May 2018, Kinian operated the store herself after she convinced the family that they were no longer safe in Agat. Kinian extorted $450,000 from the store owners. All claims regarding the FBI were false.
“Kinian took advantage of this family in the most unconscionable way,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “She preyed on their valid concerns for safety and personal income, under the guise of protection by a federal law enforcement agency. May the Court’s sentencing order bring a measure of justice for these people.”
“Ms. Kinian impersonated an FBI Special Agent and spent years terrorizing an entire innocent family out of their life savings,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill, “this sentencing demonstrates that extortion will not be tolerated, and those involved in defrauding and intimidating others will be brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
