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Federal jury trial of Miah, Mirano set to begin today
A federal jury trial of Mohammad Jahangir Miah and Earl Eric Mirano, who are facing charges over a scheme of cashing “stale” CNMI tax refund checks at grocery stores, will begin today, Monday.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona will preside the trial set for 9am.
After the jury selection, opening statements by prosecution and defense counsels would normally follow.
A superseding indictment or a new (replacement) indictment charged Miah and Mirano with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud.
The superseding indictment added the charge of bank fraud and removed Cecilia Blas as one of the defendants.
According to the indictment, Miah and Mirano unlawfully enriched themselves by fraudulently cashing stolen, “stale” tax refund checks, at local stores around Saipan.
The tax refund checks were those had not been claimed within one year of the CNMI government’s issuance.
Miah would buy a “stale” tax refund check from a co-conspirator who had stolen the check from the Department of Finance.
Miah and other persons would alter the text of the check. Specifically, they would remove the name of the true payee, and put in its place a name of their own choosing, such as that of Mirano.
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
