HOMELAND Security Investigation agents on Tuesday executed an arrest warrant against Yaping Tao who is charged with two counts of bank fraud.
Tao appeared before District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy for an initial appearance/arraignment with court-appointed attorney Robert T. Torres.
Tao pled not guilty and was allowed by the court to post an unsecured bond. She was released from custody.
Her jury trial was set for May 24 at 10 a.m.
According to the indictment, Tao, on or about July 24, 2017, “did knowingly execute a scheme and artifice to obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under the custody or control of First Hawaiian Bank, a federally insured financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises; specifically, by providing a fraudulent driver’s license when purchasing a 2017 Toyota Corolla from Atkins Kroll car dealership.”
This conduct was relied upon by First Hawaiian Bank to finance $22,384 for the vehicle purchase, the indictment stated.
“On or about January 24, 2020…[she] did knowingly execute a scheme and artifice to obtain moneys, funds, credits. assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under the custody or control of First Hawaiian Bank, a federally insured financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises; specifically, by providing a fraudulent driver’s license when purchasing a 2016 Kia Sedona from Triple J Motors car dealership,” the indictment added.
“This conduct was relied upon by First Hawaiian Bank to finance $16,827 for the vehicle purchase,” the indictment stated.
In 2020, Tao was also indicted in federal court on the charge that she committed document and visa fraud.
In that case, she was accused of conspiracy to commit the offense of fraud in connection with visas, and fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents.
According to the complaint, the Homeland Security Investigation conducted an immigration record check on Tao after identifying a vehicle registered in her name.
HSI stated and determined that Tao had no legal immigration status to be in the U.S.
No other information about the defendant was available as of press time Tuesday.
