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Date: 06-08-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: 2:20-cr-00196
Judge: Daniel J. Calabretta
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (Sacramento County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Sacramento
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Sacramento, California criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with one count of bank fraud related to an online scheme that defrauded a business owner in California and a second business owner in New Jersey.
Michael Uziewe, age 63, owned a purported business named God’s Word Christian Book Store. In March 2020, the first victim, an owner of a classic car dealership in Irvine, began communicating with a purported seller of two transmissions. At the seller’s direction, the victim sent more than $13,000 to the God’s Word business account that Uziewe controlled at Ameris Bank. The victim never received the transmissions.
Also, in April 2020, the second victim, an owner of a nail salon in Jersey City, New Jersey, sent more than $100,000 to Uziewe’s Ameris Bank account. She sent the funds to assist the return to the United States of an individual who claimed he was a surgeon working for the United Nations in Yemen and needed money to pay for costs associated with traveling to the United States.
When Uziewe attempted to withdraw the funds from the God’s Word account, he falsely claimed that they were proceeds of book sales.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta is scheduled to sentence Uziewe on Sept. 14, 2023. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the court’s discretion after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
BANK FRAUD
Outcome: 06/08/2023 78 MINUTES for proceedings held before District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta: CHANGE of PLEA HEARING as to Michael Uziewe held on 6/8/2023. Defendant, out of custody, appeared in person. The Court ENTERED Defendant's guilty plea to Count 1 as set forth in the 1 Indictment, ADJUDGED Defendant guilty, and REFERRED the matter to U.S. Probation for the preparation of a Presentence Report. Judgment and Sentencing SET for 9/14/23 at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 10 before District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta.The Court ORDERED Defendant to continue to comply with the previously-set conditions of pretrial release and ADVISED Defendant of the penalties for failure to appear as ordered. Government Counsel: Matthew Thuesen, present. Defense Counsel: Hannah Labaree, present. Custody Status: Out of Custody. Court Reporter: Jennifer Coulthard. (Woodworth, M.) (Entered: 06/08/2023)
06/08/2023 79 [DISREGARD - see 80 Amended Schedule of Disclosure for PSR] SCHEDULE OF DISCLOSURE FOR PSR as to Michael Uziewe. Plea Date: *06/08/2023* Sentencing Date: *09/14/2023* ** Correction Date: *09/07/2023* Report Date: *08/31/23* Objection Date: *08/24/2023* Proposed Date: *08/17/2023* Copies: *AUSA - Defense Counsel - USPO* (Woodworth, M.) Modified on 6/8/2023 (Michel, G.). (Entered: 06/08/2023)
06/08/2023 80 AMENDED SCHEDULE OF DISCLOSURE FOR PSR as to Michael Uziewe. Plea Date: *6/8/2023* Sentencing Date: *9/14/2023* Reply Date: *9/7/2023*** Correction Date: *8/31/2023* Report Date: *8/24/2023* Objection Date: *8/17/2023* Proposed Date: *8/3/2023* Copies: *AUSA - Defense Counsel - USPO* (Michel, G.) (Entered: 06/08/2023)
06/08/2023 81 CLERK'S NOTICE OF DOCKET CORRECTION: DISREGARD 79 Schedule of Disclosure for PSR. See 80 Amended Schedule of Disclosure for PSR. (Michel, G.) (Entered: 06/08/2023)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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