According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Leon Guerrero’s used his official position to demand and receive payments from arrested drivers of illegal taxicabs in exchange for dismissing their criminal cases and returning the seized vehicles.
During yesterday’s initial hearing, U.S. District Court for the NMI Presiding Judge Alex R. Munson denied bail without prejudice and remanded Leon Guerrero, who was represented by attorney David Banes, to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley is prosecuting the case.
In a phone interview, O’Malley said Leon Guerrero was arrested at the Horiguchi Bldg. in Garapan.
On Monday, Munson granted O’Malley’s motion to seal the proceedings and order, stating that “the case contains some details of other ongoing investigations that may, if disclosed publicly, jeopardize those investigations and would allow the targets of those investigations to ascertain the identity of the government’s confidential source.”
Yesterday, after federal agents took custody of Leon Guerrero, Munson granted the U.S. government’s motion to unseal the case.
In his affidavit, FBI special agent Haejun Park informed the court that the main source of the investigation “has proved reliable for the FBI.”
There is probable cause that Leon Guerrero committed the crime of “interference with commerce by
threats or Violence/Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right,” the FBI stated.
It added that Leon Guerrero solicited from each of his victims $300 to $700.
The source worked for the FBI during a five-month period, records showed.
Last July, the source informed FBI that Leon Guerrero arrested the informant for operating an unlicensed taxi.
The informant-victim was imprisoned for one night for the offense.
“[The vehicle’s release] could be worked out,” Leon Guerrero was quoted as telling the informant-victim.
The FBI said Leon Guerrero called up the informant-victim the night of next day, and instructed they meet in the Price Costco parking lot.
The FBI said Leon Guerrero asked $500 from the informant-victim for the release of the vehicle.
The next day, at the police station, Leon Guerrero received $500 cash from the informant-victim, and the vehicle was released afterward, Park’s affidavit stated.
Last September, another informant-victim came to the FBI and recounted the same experience with Leon Guerrero after being arrested for operating an illegal taxicab.
On Oct. 4, 2009, Leon Guerrero received $300 from the FBI informant for the release of the second victim’s vehicle.
Several days after the vehicle was released to the second informant-victim, Leon Guerrero called up the informant-victim for the possible dismissal of the case.
“Leon Guerrero demanded $500 from the source to have the case dismissed,” Park stated in his affidavit.
Payment of $200 was made to Leon Guerrero on Oct. 9, and the balance of $300 was received by the detective on Oct. 16, 2009, records showed.
“Several of these discussions were recorded by the FBI,” Park said in his affidavit.
Park said recently, another witness was interviewed by the FBI regarding a separate matter, “and the witness voluntarily admitted working with Leon Guerrero in extorting money from Chinese unlicensed taxi drivers in the CNMI.”
Over eight occasions, Leon Guerrero contacted the witness and instructed to contact unlicensed taxi drivers, Park said.
“At the direction of Leon Guerrero, the witness would advice the Chinese drivers that if they wanted to get their vehicle returned, they would have to pay [the witness] for the release of the car,” Park said.
Leon Guerrero demanded $300 to $700 from the victims, Park said.
“Once the individual made the payment to the witness, the money was split with Leon Guerrero and the vehicle was released back to the driver.”
Saipan City Taxi Association president Rabby Syed said he was “shocked” by Leon Guerrero’s arrest.
“We are also sad. We are looking forward to the integrity of the investigation and more enforcement against illegal taxis,” Syed said.
