Previous Story
Ex-Finance employee gets six-month term for embezzlement
|
Posted on Dec 29 2005
The federal court yesterday sentenced to six months in jail a former employee of the Department of Finance’s Division of Treasury who was charged with embezzling $14,120 in government’s revenue collections.
After serving the jail term, defendant Jessica Jean Aldan Castro will be placed on three years of supervised release, according to the order issued by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Alex R. Munson.
Munson also directed Castro to pay a $10,000 fine and $11,120 in restitution to the CNMI government.
The sentencing hearing was completed late yesterday afternoon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Bowers represented the U.S. government. Defense attorney Bruce Berline served as counsel for Castro.
According to the prosecution, Castro stole the money belonging to the then Department of Labor and Immigration beginning December 2002 and continuing through December 2003.
Bowers stated in the indictment that, as an employee of Finance, Castro was assigned at DOLI where she was responsible for revenue collection relating to all Labor and Immigration fees.
Bowers said that the defendant fraudulently voided receipts from various transactions and knowingly stole cash paid by customers in an amount totaling $14,120.
Berline argued as to the amount taken.
In August 2005, the 30-year-old Castro pleaded guilty to the indictment charging her with theft from an organization or agency receiving federal funds.
