Ex-probation officer gets 30 months in jail for extortion

The federal court yesterday slapped a 30-month jail term on a former CNMI probation officer who, while then on duty, extorted money from numerous probationers.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson ordered that after release from imprisonment, Robin Norita Sablan will be placed on three years of supervised release.

Sablan, 30, was given credit for the time he already served in jail.

Munson ordered the defendant to pay a total of $7,040 in restitution to 12 victims: Maisar Tmakiung-Udui, $1,500; Yong Xue Cui, $985; Eduardo Angeles, $915; Agapito Cantos, $850; Sun Ji, $850; Ham Haro, $740; Nina Rivera, $660; Ronie Sto. Domingo, $290; Allan Hernandez, $100; Aguinaldo Tesado, $50; Jay G. Adarve, $50; and Bonifacio Rivera, $50.

During the probationary period, Sablan will be required to perform 200 hours of community work service under the direction of the U.S. Probation Office.

The defendant will also be required to participate in a program approved by the U.S. Probation Office for substance abuse. The program may include testing to determine whether he has reverted to drug use.

He will be prohibited, among other conditions, from entering poker rooms or engaging in gambling activities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler recommended a 36-month jail term and a maximum term of supervised release. Attorney Joey San Nicolas, counsel for Sablan, recommended for the lowest end of the sentencing guidelines or for a term of 30 months.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed last April an information charging the defendant with one count of extortion under color of official act.

Sablan, however, immediately waived the indictment and entered a guilty plea. He was then released on bail.

According to court documents, from Sept. 18, 2004 to March 20, 2006 Sablan, while employed as an assistant probation officer by the Commonwealth Adult Probation, demanded and received money from defendants under his supervision in return for promises of favorable official action with respect to said defendants’ terms of probation.

The defendant resigned as probation officer with the Office of Adult Probation when the Office of Public Auditor and the Attorney General’s Investigation Unit placed him under investigation on the early part of 2006.

Sablan reportedly confessed receiving payments from 11 probationers and issuing fake receipts during his tenure as probation officer. He claimed he used the money to support his gambling and financial problems.