Two allegedly stole, forged checks of ex-AG San Nicolas

Two persons were arrested on Tinian Tuesday for allegedly stealing and forging three checks in the total amount of $1,050 belonging to former attorney general Joey Patrick San Nicolas.

Suspects Lahee M. Manglona, 20, and Francin R. Aldan, 32, allegedly used the money to buy drugs and play poker, according to court documents.

Manglona and Aldan were arrested for theft and forgery.

At a hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman imposed a bail of $100 cash and $4,900 unsecured bond each for Manglona and Aldan.

A police detective stated in his report that San Nicolas went to the Tinian Department of Public Safety’s front desk on Monday to file a complaint.

San Nicolas, who is running for mayor of Tinian, stated that he received a call from Bank of Guam that three of his personal checks had inconsistent signatures and were cashed at the Lucky Qiang Store.

The former AG said he suspected Manglona and Aldan were behind it because the two previously stole a blank check and forged his girlfriend’s signature in the amount of $100.

San Nicolas said in that previous case, Manglona and Aldan confessed to stealing and forging the check and apologized.

In the latest case, the former AG said the amount forged and cashed was over $1,000.

Later that same Monday, the cashier at Lucky Qiang Store called Tinian DPS, requesting police assistance as her boss wanted to file a complaint.

Lin Castro, owner of Lucky Qiang Store, stated that he wanted to file a theft complaint against Manglona and Aldan for allegedly using and cashing three stolen checks belonging to San Nicolas.

Castro said the suspects assured him that the checks were okay and that they were given to them as payment for their services for yard cleaning and dumping.

The storeowner said they deposited the checks with Bank of Guam, which informed them that those checks were reported stolen.

Castro disclosed that the first check was cashed on Oct. 17, 2014, in the amount of $350, while the second in the amount of $400 was on Oct. 18, and the third in the amount of $300 on Monday.

Castro stated that he has surveillance footages of all three incidents in which the suspects used and cashed the stolen checks.

Manglona and Aldan were arrested Tuesday morning.

In an interview that day, Aldan allegedly confessed to police that Manglona stole the checks, filled them, and forged San Nicolas’ signature.

Aldan said she told the cashier that the check belonged to her. She admitted she accompanied Manglona twice in cashing the stolen checks.

Aldan further stated that after cashing the checks, Manglona used the remaining cash to buy drugs and play poker.

Aldan admitted that she also played poker with the remaining cash from the stolen checks. She said she was supposed to report Manglona to police but the latter hit her in the face and threatened to kill himself if she reported him.

During an interview with the police on the same day, Manglona denied stealing the checks and pointed to Aldan as the one who stole the checks.

Manglona also denied filling out the checks and forging San Nicolas’ signature. He said when he received the checks from Aldan, they were already filled out and signed.

Manglona further denied any involvement with the forged check belonging to San Nicolas’ girlfriend. He pointed that it was Aldan who stole that check and later confessed and apologized to the girlfriend.