California Fraudster Sentenced for $1.2M Money Order Scheme

Ambrose A. Obinna Warrior was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for operating as an unlicensed money transmitter, involved in various fraudulent schemes including romance and investment scams, resulting in victims losing at least $467,912. He transmitted over $700,000 in proceeds through personal and business accounts while charging significant fees. Separately, Sterlyn Lee Smith Jr. received a sentence of 57 months for orchestrating a scheme that forged over $1.2 million in money orders across California and Nevada. Smith and accomplices altered money orders purchased at U.S. Post Offices and deposited them into bank accounts under false names, quickly withdrawing the funds before detection. He pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and was ordered to pay restitution of $432,482.63, along with three years of supervised release post-incarceration. Both cases highlight ongoing issues with financial fraud and the legal consequences faced by perpetrators.