$31K seized from birth tourism defendant forfeited

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona granted on Wednesday the prosecution’s motion to forfeit in favor of the U.S. government the $31,960 that was seized from a tourist who was sentenced last week to 12 months and one day in prison after being convicted of running an illegal business that offered trip packages to pregnant Chinese women seeking to give birth on Saipan.

Manglona ordered that Sen Sun shall forfeit to the U.S. government the $8,541 that was seized upon his arrest and $23,419 confiscated during the search of his home.

The judge said the arguments in the U.S. government’s motion are supported by the law and the facts.

The indictment charged Sun, a Chinese national, with harboring illegal aliens.

In the U.S. government’s motion, assistant U.S. attorney Eric O’Malley said the criminal forfeiture allegation in the indictment gives Sun notice that conviction on count one would require him to forfeit to the U.S. a sum of money equal to proceeds derived from the offense.

O’Malley said that, on Dec. 8, 2017, Sun entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. in which he agreed to plead guilty to the indictment.

The prosecutor said in that plea deal, Sun did not contest the forfeiture of assets, including $8,541 seized from him upon his arrest, and $23,419 seized during the search of his residence.

The court accepted the plea agreement last Dec. 8.

O’Malley said at the sentencing hearing last Friday, he (O’Malley) stated without objection that it would submit an order seeking forfeiture of the $31,960.

O’Malley asked the court for a final order of forfeiture, declaring the money forfeited to the U.S.

At the sentencing hearing, Manglona gave Sun credit for the time he already served in prison and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine and $100 in court assessment fee.

After serving his prison term, he will be deported.

O’Malley stated that between Jan. 1, 2017 and Nov. 3, 2017, Sun ran an illegal business operation arranging travel, medical, and other services to pregnant foreign citizens seeking to give birth in the NMI.

O’Malley said each of defendant’s clients paid upward of $15,000 for this service that included a full-time assistant or nanny.

O’Malley said Sun employed the 15 workers knowing they were aliens who were not authorized to work here.