By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

THE owners of the Red Heart Massage and Mayi Club who were convicted for promoting and permitting prostitution and immigration fraud have been sentenced to three years of imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Edward Frank Cabrera and Xiuhong Luo were also ordered to each pay a fine of $8,000.
Cabrera and Luo will report to the Department of Corrections on Jan. 30 to start serving their sentence.
The couple’s son will be in the custody of Cabrera’s sister, Elizabeth Cabrera, the moment Luo will start her jail sentence.
Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo also revoked permanently the business license of Edward Cabrera.
Luo was barred from getting any permit to work in the CNMI and will be deported after serving her jail term.
Govendo said the $8,000 fine that Luo has to pay will be waived once she is deported. “Miss Luo, you’re one of the persons that I would say ‘adios’ to. You had your chance but you were not honest and that is unacceptable,” the judge said.
Govendo at the same time ordered Edward Cabrera to get a General Education Development, or GED, diploma while in prison.
“I want you to finish your education so that you can get an honest job in the future,” the judge said. “Your life is about to change. You’re not going to get a license for massage, karaoke and club or any similar business. Never again will you be able to bring in girls here to work as prostitutes. That’s done and over,” Govendo told Cabrera during yesterday’s sentencing hearing.
The judge said he doesn’t find the defendants to be remorseful at all.
“They were just remorseful because, for the first time, the Department of Public Safety and the government got serious in this matter. Miss Luo cried and rendered a long statement but that’s not a sign of remorse,” Govendo said.
The judge told prosecutors to be serious in enforcing immigration laws.
“When a garment factory closes, it’s time for the workers to go home and say adios to the CNMI. Their job is over and they don’t have the right to remain in the CNMI. They came here as sewers so when it’s over they have to return to their country,” Govendo said.
“Bringing girls for prostitution is another improper use of immigration (law). If we accept prostitution as part of our values, this society is not going to make it — we will be a morally corrupt society. If we accept it, then let’s legalize it. Let’s get the girls examined and we can make a lot of money. But if we are a religious society and we decide that it’s morally wrong, then let’s not accept it.”
Govendo added, “Prostitution is all over the place. When you’re in Garapan, you will see pimps and prostitutes, yet we have very, very strong and serious laws about prostitution. The government has to send a message to the community — that they know what’s going on and they will do everything to stop it.”
Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lynch said he is satisfied with the sentence.
Edward Cabrera’s counsel, Joey Arriola, said the sentence was fair and reasonable.
Luo’s counsel, Robert T. Torres, said the court looked at all the factors of rehabilitation, deterrence, isolation and retribution.
“I believe the court did a great thing in considering all the facts and justice was done — the sentence was fair and appropriate,” Torres said.
He said the court also showed the importance of political will in enforcing the law.
“We need to have a political will in enforcing the law and making up our minds whether we want to open the doors or we want to close the doors — we have to decide,” Torres said.