Man in driver’s license scam faces new charges

A man who allegedly conspired with others to lure five Chinese nationals to the CNMI for nonexistent jobs was indicted in federal court Thursday.

The Chinese nationals—four females and one male—were allegedly promised work visas upon arriving on Saipan, salaries of over $1,000 per month, and work as a waitress, cleaner, or taxi driver.

Wei Lin was indicted on 18 charges, including foreign labor contracting fraud conspiracy, foreign labor contracting fraud, and alien smuggling conspiracy.

A jury recently found Lin guilty in a fraudulent driver’s license case. His sentencing will be on Oct. 5, 2011. Lin has been in custody for almost six months now.

In the new case, the federal court appointed attorney Michael Norita Evangelista as Lin’s counsel.

When asked for comment about the new case, Evangelista pointed out that even if a person is found guilty in an old case, that person still has a constitutional right to be presumed innocent in a new case.

“Until we receive all the facts and police reports then we will be better able to address the specifics of this new case,” Evangelista said.

Evangelista’s co-counsel, Joseph Norita Camacho, said if on its face the indictment is true, then why weren’t the alleged victims also arrested? “Before a person exits the airport, a person has to indicate the visit is either business or pleasure. For non-U.S. citizens it specifically states that entry is not for employment purposes,” Camacho said.

Evangelista and Camacho also served as counsel for Lin in the “old” case.

According to the indictment filed Thursday by assistant U.S. attorney Kirk Schuler, Lin, while in the CNMI, called one or more of the five Chinese nationals in China in July and August 2010 to encourage them to come to the CNMI.

In August and September 2010, Lin, with help of others, picked up the five Chinese nationals at the Saipan International Airport.

Shortly after their arrival, Lin collected over $4,000 from each of the five Chinese nationals. Lin then made the four women sign a contract.

On Sept. 10, 2010, Lin gave the four women jobs that were different from what had been described to them while they were in China.

Lin never gave a job to the male Chinese.

The five flew to the CNMI from China and obtained temporary parole into the CNMI as tourists on Aug. 4 and 17 and Sept. 7, 2010.

Lin and other members of the conspiracy allegedly instructed one or more of the five to tell immigration officers that they were arriving as tourists.

Lin and other members of the conspiracy allegedly informed the five that they would be able to work in the CNMI and obtain work visas after their arrival.