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Melvin Ada appeals sentence to the Ninth Circuit
Melvin Garong Ada, a former Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. staff who was recently slapped with a sentence of 12.7 years in prison for stealing over $1.7 million from the corporation, is appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Ada, through counsel Colin Thompson, notified the U.S. District Court for the NMI last week about his appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
Ada said he is appealing to the Ninth Circuit to reverse his 12.7 years sentence.
In the notice of appeal, Thompson requested the U.S. District Court for the NMI to provide him a transcript during the sentencing hearing.
No other details were provided in the defendant’s notice of appeal.
Last Dec. 17, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona handed down the sentence of 12.7 years in prison against Ada, for 19 counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, nine counts of health care fraud, and 28 counts of money laundering.
Ada was ordered to immediately pay $5,300 in court assessment fee.
The judge also granted the U.S. government’s motion for money judgment in the amount of $1.8 million, representing the total gross proceeds Ada obtained as a result of his criminal conduct.
Ada’s wife, Leyda, was acquitted last June of charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. The jury, however, found her guilty of perjury. She has yet to be sentenced.
