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Woman in fake money case pleads guilty
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Posted on Apr 06 2009
One of three persons indicted in federal court for passing fake bills to some stores on Saipan pleaded guilty yesterday.
Kisha Lyn Masga King pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to utter counterfeit obligations and securities, and three counts of passing counterfeit obligations.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson accepted King’s guilty plea and set the sentencing for July 14, 2009 at 9am.
King and counsel, Loren Sutton, signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Benedetto appeared in court yesterday for the U.S. government.
According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 12, 2009, King made a purchase at Tapo Fashion with a $50 bill that she knew to be counterfeit, in connivance with Nestor Taitano.
The understanding was that Taitano would give King the fake $50 and she would keep the item she purchased and return the change from the purchase to Taitano.
That same day, King made a purchase at Fashion Avenue with a fake $50 bill, under the same arrangement with Taitano. King also bought gasoline at Koblerville Shell Station using a fake $50 bill.
Last February, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service, with the assistance of local police, busted King, Taitano, and Lucas Taitano Manglona for circulating fake money.
Benedetto said the object of the conspiracy was to obtain merchandise and genuine U.S. currency as change from the transactions.
Police first discovered the passing of fake money on the island after Taitano and Manglona had a fight at their compound in San Vicente last January.
Responding police officers arrested Manglona after he admitted purchasing a pack of cigarettes and a lighter at Nang Ocha Store knowing that his $50 was fake.
Manglona claimed that his brother has been dealing in illegal drugs and had knowledge of stolen property.
