MICHAEL Rosal Benavente was ordered by the federal court on Tuesday to self-surrender on Jan. 3, 2022.
Benavente was accused of selling real estate properties that he did not own and was charged with two counts of wire fraud.
After he pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud, District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment.
Upon release from imprisonment, he “shall submit to a term of supervised release of three years and comply with conditions as adopted by this court.”
The judge likewise ordered Benavente to pay a special assessment fee of $200 immediately after sentencing.
“Defendant must perform 50 hours of community service in lieu of a fine. Defendant must pay restitution to the victim,” the judge added.
She ordered Benavente to self-surrender to the Department of Corrections on Jan. 3, 2022 at 8 a.m.
According to the indictment, between Dec. 22, 2018 and about June 7, 2019, Benavente devised a scheme to defraud individuals to obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses and representations.
Benavente would provide 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, he 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.
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 he did not have an ownership interest in Lot No. 093 E 24 at the time, and, in fact, the document was a forgery, the indictment stated.
Attorney Bruce Berline was appointed to the court to represent Benavente while Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.
