CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice announced September 9 that a California woman pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, 32, of Sacramento, executed a scheme to defraud credit unions between Aug. 7, 2022, and Oct. 3, 2022, according to court documents.
She fraudulently used a victim’s identity to secure a car loan for a Mercedes-Benz, another for a Jaguar, and a personal loan for alleged “medical expenses.”
Gonzales Grado also deposited two stolen checks, altered to list the victim as payee, giving her access to the funds in a credit union account linked to the loans.
She also used the victim’s identity to open a mobile phone account and lease an apartment. Gonzales Grado gave police the victim’s driver’s license to avoid a traffic ticket.
She was caught after arriving at a probation meeting in the fraudulently obtained Jaguar. A search of the car turned up the victim’s driver’s license, Social Security card, and multiple debit and credit cards.
Faces up to 30 years in prison
Gonzales Grado will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on January 6, 2026.
She faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud, plus a mandatory two years for identity theft.
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