Sacramento woman pleads guilty to bank fraud, identity theft

A Sacramento woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft after federal prosecutors said she used a stolen identity to secure loans, buy luxury cars, and even avoid a traffic ticket.

Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, 32, admitted in court that she defrauded multiple credit unions between August and October 2022, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a statement. Prosecutors said Gonzales Grado used a victim’s personal information to obtain car loans for a Mercedes-Benz and a Jaguar, as well as a personal loan she claimed was for medical expenses.

Investigators stated that she also deposited two stolen and altered checks into an account opened in the victim’s name, used the identity to open a cellphone account, and leased an apartment. When pulled over for a traffic violation, authorities said, she provided officers with the victim’s driver’s license.

The scheme unraveled when Gonzales Grado arrived at a probation meeting in the fraudulently obtained Jaguar. A search of the vehicle uncovered the victim’s driver’s license, Social Security card, and several debit and credit cards, prosecutors said.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is handling the prosecution.

Sentencing for Gonzales Grado is scheduled for January 6, 2026, by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud charge, along with a mandatory consecutive two-year term for aggravated identity theft.

As part of her plea agreement, Gonzales Grado also agreed to pay as much as $150,000 in restitution to her victims.