CUC chair’s son indicted in federal court

The son of Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board chair Frank Guerrero has been indicted in federal court, along with another man, for allegedly conspiring to use and forge credit cards and checks that were stolen from a postal office.

Frank Guerrero’s son, John Richard Palacios Guerrero, and Gary Lee Castro Pangelinan were charged with conspiracy to receive and possess stolen mail, and two counts of possession of stolen mail.

Assistant U.S. attorney Jamie Bowers stated in the indictment that between Oct. 27, 2005 and Nov. 10, 2005, Guerrero and Pangelinan conspired to possess mail matter that had been stolen from the U.S. Postal Service.

Bowers said the object of the conspiracy was to receive and use checks and credit cards stolen from the USPS to unlawfully obtain cash and items of value from businesses in the CNMI.

Bowers said that between Oct. 27, 2005 and Nov. 10, 2005, both had in their possession mail matters that were stolen from the Capital Hill Rural Branch Contract Postal Unit (CHRB) Mail Branch, including various personal checks, business checks and credit cards belonging to other individuals.

CHRB is an authorized depository for the USPS on Saipan.

The prosecutor said that the defendants obtained and used a typewriter to alter several of the checks from stolen mail.

Bowers said that, on Oct. 28, 2005, the defendants used a stolen First Premier Bank Visa credit card that belonged to another person to buy goods, totaling $14.50, at the Town & Country Café & Restaurant.

The following day, the defendants allegedly used another First Premier Bank visa credit card, which also belonged to another person, to purchase cigarettes, totaling $9.90, at the Middle Road Mobil Gas Station.

Bowers said that between Oct. 27, 2005 and Nov. 10, 2005, the defendants possessed a letter containing two First Premier Bank and Visa credit cards, addressed to Wilfred Joseph Asanuma.

Bowers said that in that period, the defendants possessed a stolen parcel containing replacement First Hawaiian Bank checks, addressed to Joanne T. Deleon Guerrero.

During the same period, Bowers said, the defendants possessed a stolen letter containing a personal First Hawaiian Bank check belonging to and written by Fe A. Cepeda.

Bowers said that on Nov. 1, 2005, the defendants unlawfully possessed a stolen box of personal checks from First Hawaiian Bank belonging to Joanne T. Deleon Guerrero.

That same day, Pangelinan allegedly forged one of the checks in the amount of $500 and cashed it at the First Hawaiian Bank.

Also on Nov. 1, 2005, the defendants allegedly possessed personal checks from First Hawaiian Bank belonging to Fe A. and Frank G. Cepeda and written to Pentagon Federal Credit Union.

That day, Pangelinan allegedly forged and altered the check in the amount of $500 and cashed it at the First Hawaiian Bank.

Bowers said that, on the following day, the defendants possessed a personal check from Bank of Guam belonging to Jesus and Dorothy Muna and written to pay Combined Federal Campaign.

That day, Pangelinan allegedly forged and altered the check from $50 to $800 and cashed it at the Bank of Guam.

Bowers said that on Nov. 8, 2005, the defendants possessed a stolen check from Bank of America, then Pangelinan forged the check so that it was payable to him in the amount of $462. Pangelinan allegedly tendered the check to purchase items at the Roshi’s Department Store.

Two days later, the defendants possessed a $200 check from Janus Investments belonging to Jason E. Joseph. That day, Pangelinan altered the check so that it was payable to him and cashed it at the First Hawaiian Bank, Bowers said.

Also on Nov. 8, the defendants possessed a check from ADP Tax Filing Services. Pangelinan forged the check to make it payable to him in the amount of $2,625.38. He used it to buy items at the second Roshi’s Department Store, Bowers said.

John Richard Guerrero was first arrested during a reported break-in at MidPac Micronesia Building in Gualo Rai on Dec. 30, 2005. On Tuesday night, police arrested him again for alleged involvement in other burglary cases on Saipan.