Jurors empanelled in trial of couple accused of harboring 2 illegal aliens

Manglona

A federal jury trial began yesterday of a couple accused of harboring two illegal Chinese aliens in exchange for money.

As of yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona completed the selection of jurors who will decide the case of Francisco Tydingco and Lili Zhang Tydingco.

The trial will resume today, Wednesday, at 8am. The parties are expected to deliver their opening statements before calling in witnesses.

Assistant U.S. attorney Russell H. Lorfing, counsel for the government, is prosecuting the case. Defense counsels Bruce Berline and Benjamin Petersburg are counsel for Lili Zhang Tydingco. Defense attorney Steven Pixley is counsel for Francisco Tydingco.

On Monday, Manglona denied the U.S. Probation’s petition for action on conditions of pre-trial release of Francisco Tydingco.

Manglona allowed Francisco Tydingco to continue to remain on pretrial release. The judge admonished him and instructed him to submit to a drug test daily prior to the start of trial.

U.S. Probation Officer Specialist Maria C. Cruz on Thursday asked the court to issue a summons for Francisco Tydingco to appear at an order to show cause hearing to determine whether or not his pre-trial release should be modified or revoked.

Francisco Tydingco was arrested on Dec. 29, 2015, for harboring and was released from custody on Jan. 6, 2016, with many conditions, including drug testing and curfew restriction.

Cruz disclosed that last May 24, Francisco Tydingco appeared for a random drug test at Marianas Counseling Services, and the specimen tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Cruz said upon questioning, Franscisco Tydingco admitted smoking methamphetamine on May 21, and signed an admission form.

Cruz said the defendant also failed to appear for scheduled drug testing on May 23, 28, and 31, 2016.

A federal grand jury has indicted the Tydingco couple for allegedly receiving money to harbor two illegal Chinese aliens, including a child they enrolled at a public school.

The indictment charged the Tydingcos with two counts of harboring illegal alien.

According to the indictment, beginning Sept. 28, 2013, and continuing through Feb. 19, 2015, the Tydingcos in reckless disregard of the fact that a minor child had come to and remained in the U.S. in violation of law, “did knowingly and intentionally conceal, harbor, or shield from detection,” the child, “in any place, including any building, for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain.”

Beginning July 25, 2014, and continuing Oct. 10, 2014, the Tydingcos allegedly did the same offense to conceal, harbor, or shield the child.

According to Homeland Security Investigations Task Force officer Jesse Dubrall, the child’s purported uncle stated in an interview that he paid Lili Tydingco $7,000 in exchange for helping him enter into a fake marriage and obtain a green card.

Dubrall said the parents of the child admitted that they agreed to pay Lili Tydingco between $15,000 and $20,000 to take their child to Saipan and get her a green card.