No luck in Wyoming: Las Vegas woman sentenced to federal prison for forged treasury check scheme

CASPER, Wyo. - Katrina Marie Amaya-Lopez, 47, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for passing a stolen U.S. Treasury check that she falsely endorsed and passed at a Wyoming bank. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 20, 2026, in Casper. Amaya-Lopez was also ordered to pay $150,590 in restitution.

According to court records, investigators tracked Amaya-Lopez across state lines, arresting her in Nevada on May 1, 2026.

"If you bring financial fraud to Wyoming, pack a toothbrush for a federal prison stay," said U.S. Attorney Darin D. Smith, underscoring the state's aggressive stance on cross-border financial crimes.

This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen prosecuted the crime on behalf of the United States.

Case No. 26-CR-00069

This case was part of the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division, a specialized, data-driven unit that investigates and prosecutes fraud targeting American citizens and taxpayer-funded programs.

The division's operations directly support Executive Order 14395, issued by President Donald J. Trump on March 16, 2026. This order established the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government initiative that implements strict eligibility verification and protects federal and state benefit networks from systemic exploitation.

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