TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Sarai Jamila Nyasha Freeman, a 41-year-old woman from Aurora, Colorado, on Tuesday for multiple charges, including two counts of Passing and Uttering Counterfeit Obligations and Securities, two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, and Failure to Appear, according to court records.
The case began unraveling when Freeman was provided an airline ticket to attend her trial in December 2024. However, she failed to show up on the scheduled trial date, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for her arrest.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that in January 2020, Sarai Jamila Nyasha Freeman used the identity of a deceased individual to fraudulently cash two counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks.
Further investigation uncovered a prior conviction in 2023, where Freeman had pleaded guilty in Tulsa County to four counts of uttering forged documents related to crimes committed in 2019. Court documents from that state case also noted that two bench warrants had been issued due to her failure to appear.
Following her latest conviction, Freeman was taken into custody and will remain there pending her sentencing, which is scheduled for a later date. The charges carry significant penalties, though specific sentencing details were not immediately available.
The investigation was a joint effort by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Wal-Mart Global Investigations. The U.S. Marshals Service provided assistance in apprehending Freeman.
