Criminal case vs ex-Tinian Dynasty VIP services manager dismissed

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona yesterday dismissed the indictment filed against former Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino VIP services manager George Que.

Manglona dismissed with prejudice the indictment against Que after the U.S. government filed an unopposed motion to dismiss the case.

Dismiss with prejudice means the U.S. government cannot re-file the case anymore.

The indictment charged Que with one count of conspiracy to cause a financial institution to fail to file a Currency Transaction Report and nine counts of causing a financial institution to fail to file a CTR.

In the U.S. government’s motion to dismiss, assistant U.S. attorney Russell H. Lorfing said this motion is made in good faith, primarily based on the parties’ deferred prosecution agreement and further discussions that the parties have had following the filing of that document.

Lorfing said Que’s counsel is aware of this motion and does not oppose it.

Que, former Tinian Dynasty casino manager Tim Blyth, and Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investments Ltd., which owns the Dynasty, were charged with engaging in a conspiracy to allow gamblers to conduct transactions involving more than $10,000 without filing the required paperwork with the U.S. government.

Que, Blyth, and Hong Kong Entertainment all entered with the U.S. government a deferred prosecution agreement in exchange for the dismissal of the charges against them.

With respect to Que’s case, the court approved the agreement in July 2014.

As part of the agreement, the case against Que would be held in abeyance for 18 months. If he complies with the conditions of the agreement, the charge against him will be dismissed.

The conditions include Que acknowledging responsibility for his conduct, agreeing to cooperate with the U.S. government in its investigation, and a promise to no longer work in any position in a U.S. financial institution where he would supervise employees responsible for handling currency.

Que also agreed to pay at least $5,000 as civil monetary penalty.

According to the agreement, during Que’s tenure as VIP services manager between March 1, 2011, and April 24, 2013, Tinian Dynasty failed to prepare CTR forms for about $27 million in reportable currency transactions as required by law.

In July and September 2015, Manglona dismissed with prejudice the charges against Hong Kong Entertainment and Blyth respectively following the U.S. government’s motion.