Benavente pled not guilty and was released on an unsecured bond with conditions by District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona who set the jury trial for Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.
According to the indictment, Benavente, between Dec. 22, 2018 and on or about June 7, 2019, devised a scheme to defraud individuals to obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses and representations.
Benavente provided false and fraudulent documents such as title reports and warranty deeds to individuals for the purpose of inducing financial investments in purported real estate transactions, the indictment stated.
For example, on or about Jan. 31, 2019, the defendant provided an individual with a preliminary title report that showed he had title to Lot No. E.A. 167-Rl. Benavente, however, did not have an ownership interest in Lot E.A. 167-Rl at the time, and, in fact, the document was a forgery, the indictment stated.
Furthermore, on or about May 27, 2019, Benavente provided another person with a preliminary title report that showed he had title to Lot No. 093 E 24. But Benavente did not have an ownership interest in Lot No. 093 E 24 at the time, and the document itself was also a forgery.
The U.S. government wants to forfeit any money or property from the offense upon the conviction of Benavente.
Attorney Bruce Berline was appointed to represent Benavente while Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.
