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Sagana to soon head back to NMI
Travel arrangement have now been made for a man who is facing federal charges in the CNMI but had fled to Wisconsin where he was arrested.
During a status conference for Bonifacio “Boni” Sagana last Wednesday, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona was informed that travel arrangements were being made for Sagana to return to Saipan where he will face federal charges for allegedly arranging for others to obtain fake CNMI driver’s licenses.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Sagana is set to arrive on Saipan on July 26 or 28.
Manglona said she will issue an order regarding Sagana’s appearance before scheduling an arraignment for Aug. 3, at 9am.
During last Wednesday’s hearing, court-appointed attorney Richard Miller appeared to represent Sagana while assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe represented the federal government.
Sagana, who is currently in Wisconsin and out of custody, appeared via videoconference and was represented by assistant federal defender Krista Halla-Valdes who also appeared via videoconference.
Last week, the U.S. District Court for the NMI granted Sagana’s request for travel subsidy.
According to court documents, the district court issued an arrest warrant for Sagana following a grand jury indictment back on Jan. 31 on the charge of conspiring with others to unlawfully produce a CNMI driver’s license.
However, Sagana fled the CNMI before he could be arrested and was arrested on May 16 in Wisconsin.
Sagana was allegedly identified by other defendants facing the same charges as the person who arranged for them to fraudulently obtain a CNMI driver’s license using a counterfeit U.S. immigration visa number.
According to documents from the Eastern District Court of Wisconsin, Sagana, a U.S. permanent resident, appeared at an initial hearing on May 16, before Judge James R. Sickel.
The charge against Sagana is punishable by up to a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
