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Woman in recruitment scam gets 8 months in prison
The federal court on Friday slapped an eight-month prison term against Arlene D. Hart, the president of a now-defunct corporation who pleaded guilty to recruiting Filipino workers for a fee in exchange for fraudulent jobs on Saipan.
Hart, also known as Arlene H. Silva, was allowed to spend four months of her eight-month sentence on home confinement.
She will then be placed on one year of supervised release.
Hart was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and to pay a $200 court assessment fee.
“I do hope this will be the final encounter,” U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona told Hart.
Hart previously served five months in prison after being convicted in the Superior Court of stealing money from her former employer.
Manglona was initially inclined to impose the full imprisonment sentence on Hart, without home confinement, but was impressed with Hart’s immediate acceptance of responsibility and for making payments to the victims prior to her sentencing.
Hart, 56, burst into tears as she apologized to the court, to the U.S. government, and victims.
Hart said she did not have any intention to hurt her employees.
“I know that I made a mistake. I want to accept my responsibility. I lost my company. I lost my employees,” Hart said.
Defense counsel David Banes said Hart cooperated with the U.S. government right from the beginning.
Banes said Hart acknowledged that she made poor choices.
Assistant U.S. attorney James Benedetto said that Hart had no obligation to pay restitution to the victims, but she essentially voluntarily made payments to the victims.
The victims who are in the Philippines were already compensated.
Manglona agreed that no further restitution is required. She commended Cong Nie, who is Banes’ co-counsel who submitted the memorandum pertaining to restitution matter.
Benedetto said Hart submitted documents or declarations that are materially fraudulent and that charging fees from the workers is clearly prohibited under the law.
Benedetto said the U.S. government would be happy with the 12-month prison term. (Ferdie De La Torre)
