Utah man sentenced for defrauding millions through bank fraud, identity theft

SALT LAKE CITY -- Misiona Patane, a 60-year-old man from Lehi, Utah, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after defrauding friends and family members out of $3.4 million. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Patane employed a series of deceptive tactics including forging legal documents and impersonating a private lawyer and an agent with the Utah Attorney General's Office to execute his fraudulent scheme.

In 2023, Patane pleaded guilty to multiple charges including bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. The court found that between April 2015 and May 2020, he exploited two groups of victims for his personal gain, notably taking advantage of a relative with a traumatic brain injury who relied on a trust for care.

Patane's fraudulent activities included opening bank accounts in his victims' names and diverting funds into his own accounts. He misused the money for lavish travel, gambling, and other expenses, which reveals the extent of his deceit.

The Justice Department highlighted that Patane's actions devastated the financial stability of his relative, noting that he misappropriated $2.5 million from the trust meant for the victim's care. Shockingly, only $150,000 of that amount was actually utilized for the victim’s needs between 2016 and 2019, leaving them in a dire financial situation.

Patane's sentencing, coming nearly a decade after he initiated his fraudulent activities, serves as a reminder of the severe legal consequences of such deceitful actions.