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Labor staff shocked by arrest of 2 employees
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Posted on Apr 04 2008
Department of Labor Director Barry Hirshbein said he and everyone in the department were surprised and shocked at the recent arrest of two Labor employees for alleged involvement in bribery and a conspiracy to forge documents.
“This is a big shock to me,” said Hirshbein when Saipan Tribune asked him for comments on the arrest of Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero and Janel Alepuyo, both employees at Labor’s Application Processing Section.
Hirshbein said he worked closely with Deleon Guerrero and Alepuyo and that everyone in the department were surprised to learn about the incident and the charges.
“I personally know my staff and everyone at Labor are strong believers in the presumption of innocence,” he said.
The director said they hope that Deleon Guerrero and Alepuyo are innocent of the charges.
Hirshbein, however, stressed that Labor would never accept any criminal behavior in any of its employees at any time.
“If we had any information to believe that something was going on, we would look into it and do everything we could to stop it,” he said.
“There is a presumption of innocence and we do live by that presumption now,” the director said.
Hirshbein said that if anyone is found guilty of criminal misconduct involving their activities at Labor and they are convicted of those charges, the department would urge the strongest possible punishment under the circumstances.
The director said he watched Thursday’s hearing to tell Deleon Guerrero and Alepuyo that the entire staff at Labor is praying for them and hoping for their well being.
“I’m happy to see that they have strong family support with them,” Hirshbein said.
Deleon Guerrero and Alepuyo, along with six persons, were arrested Tuesday for their alleged involvement in bribery for immigration gain, exploitation of a position of authority, document fraud, conspiracy to commit document fraud, unlawful employment of aliens and conspiracy to commit unlawful employment of aliens.
