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US govt files additional charge of witness tampering against Roberto
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed in federal court an additional charge of witness tampering against former acting CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife director Raymond Borja Roberto.
The second superseding indictment filed Tuesday charged Roberto with two counts of enticement of a minor and one count of witness tampering.
The two counts of enticement of a minor are contained in the first superseding indictment.
Roberto, through counsel Joaquin Torres, pleaded not guilty to all charges during yesterday’s arraignment.
The jury trial for the case was originally set for May 12, 2014, but Torres asked that it be moved to another date. The prosecution did not object.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy later set the scheduling conference for May 12, 2014 at 10am.
Roberto was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal after the hearing.
On the new charge of witness tampering, assistant U.S. attorney Rami S. Badawy stated in the indictment that the offense happened on April 24, 2014, while Roberto was detained pending trial.
Badawy said Roberto attempted to influence the testimony of an individual and tried to persuade the same individual to alter, destroy, and conceal evidence.
With respect to enticement of a minor charges, Badawy said Roberto persuaded two minor girls to engage in prostitution or in sexual activity from March 1, 2013 to July 18, 2013.
