Peonie Cabrera, the former Executive Director of the Northern Mariana Bar Association (NMBA), has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for bank and wire fraud. The sentencing was announced by Shawn N. Anderson, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Cabrera, aged 40 and from Saipan, was sentenced on December 10, 2024, by Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Cabrera's sentence includes five years of supervised release following her imprisonment, 100 hours of community service, restitution amounting to $249,706, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $400.00.
From January 2019 to August 2023, Cabrera managed membership fees as part of her role with NMBA. During this period, she diverted over $200,000 from NMBA funds through federally insured bank accounts for personal use. She created fraudulent payroll documents and paychecks for NMBA board members' signatures that were drawn upon NMBA’s bank account and made payable to herself. Additionally, she withdrew cash from NMBA’s savings account on 13 occasions and used NMBA’s bank accounts to make over 150 payments to her PayPal account for personal use. From 2020 through 2023, she also diverted payments from NMBA members via other electronic payment accounts.
United States Attorney Anderson stated: “Cabrera’s lengthy criminal conduct left a trail of victims.” He emphasized that bar members expect their mandatory payments to support legal profession activities beneficial to communities. Anderson expressed hope that the court's sentence would deter similar actions.
FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill remarked on the case: “This sentencing is a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement agency partners are dedicated to rooting out corruption within our communities.” He highlighted Cabrera's abuse of trust by stealing over $150,000 from colleagues for personal gain.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.