Federal Court Prisons Saipan "Affinity Fraudster" in Multijurisdictional Bitcoin Scam

Sze Man Yu Inos, alias "Yuki," received a 71-month federal prison sentence for a "cynical" affinity fraud scheme targeting older women across Saipan, Guam, and the U.S. mainland.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 5:48 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Anatomy of the "Affinity Fraud" Scheme

Operating between November 2020 and January 2022, Inos employed a predatory tactic known as "affinity fraud," which relies on the exploitation of personal trust and shared community ties. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office detailed how Inos would befriend older women, often telling them, "You are like my mom," to establish deep emotional connections. She posed as a high-net-worth investor with significant financial connections in China, using lavish gifts and expensive meals to project an image of success. Once trust was solidified, she solicited large investments for purported Bitcoin trading that never occurred.

Judicial Sentencing and Financial Restitution

On April 23, 2026, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands handed down a 71-month (5 years and 11 months) prison sentence. In addition to the term of incarceration, the court imposed a comprehensive financial penalty and oversight plan:

Restitution: Ordered to pay $769,355 to her victims.

Asset Forfeiture: A separate judgment of $684,800 was imposed to seize ill-gotten gains.