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Another suspect in fake money case pleads guilty
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Posted on May 06 2009
Another defendant indicted in federal court for passing fake money to some stores on Saipan has entered a guilty plea in federal court.
In Tuesday’s hearing, Nestor Camacho Taitano pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and two counts of passing counterfeit obligations.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson set Taitano’s sentencing for Aug. 11, 2009, and remanded him back to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service, with the help of local police, busted Taitano, Kisha Lyn Masga King, and Lucas Taitano Manglona in February for circulating counterfeit money.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Benedetto said the object of the conspiracy was to obtain merchandise and genuine U.S. currency as change from the transactions.
Taitano signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government.
According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 12, 2009, King bought some items at the Tapo Fashion store with a $50 bill that she knew to be counterfeit, pursuant to an agreement with 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.
On the same day, King bought some items at the Fashion Avenue store with a fake $50 bill, using the same modus operandi.
Taitano gave King the fake money and she kept the item she purchased while returning the change to Taitano.
On the same day, with same agreement with Taitano, King bought gasoline at Koblerville Shell Station using a fake $50 bill.
Last February, King pleaded guilty to the same charges.
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.
Benedetto stated in the indictment that the three used fake money on Jan. 12, 2009, to defraud at least four establishments—Koblerville Shell gas station, Tapo Fashion in Chalan Piao, Fashion Avenue in Chalan Kanoa, and Nang Ocha Store in San Vicente.
