Inos signed the two-page order on May 24, 2010 that commuted Velma Jean Aldan Arriola’s sentence.
On March 31, 2010, Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Arriola, 37, to five years imprisonment, all suspended except for nine months.
Arriola started serving her time at the Department of Corrections facility on April 30, 2010.
On Jan. 6, 2010, Arriola pleaded guilty to one count of forgery.
Arriola was originally charged on July 14, 2009 with committing 30 counts of criminal offenses which included forgery, misuse of credit card, identity theft, theft by unlawful taking, and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received.
Manglona said Arriola’s conduct “undermined the trust placed in the commonwealth government by its taxpaying citizens and residents. Collection of tax money is the foundation of the commonwealth government’s livelihood. Her conduct causes a serious strain on the social contract between the…government and the governed. The government must hold its employees to the highest standards, a breach of that trust must be punished.”
Inos cited “humanitarian reasons” in commuting Arriola’s sentence.
Inos said Arriola “received support in her request for leniency from Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, and Rep. Rafael S. Demapan…and other members of the community.”
Arriola, Inos said, is the primary caretaker of her ailing mother and disabled brother for several years.
She is also single mother with a 12-year-old minor son in need of nurturing and guidance, Inos added.
“Velma, being a female, is culturally most acceptable and natural to provide the necessary care and assistance that her mother needs,” Inos stated.
“Velma is most familiar, knowledgeable and understood the needs and manner of care-giving that her ailing mother and disabled brother deserve.”
Inos said Arriola “has expressed remorse and regret for her actions.”
All the victims have been reimbursed, he added, citing the information he received from the Department of Finance.
“The ends of justice are served by granting [her] an opportunity to continue the path to a successful, law-abiding life,” Inos stated in his order.
Inos was still the Finance secretary when Arriola committed her crimes.
In her judgment and commitment order, Manglona permanently barred Arriola from re-employment with the CNMI government.
The prosecution said the signatures of six taxpayers were forged by Arriola to pay the tax obligations of six other taxpayers who paid their taxes in cash.
Arriola received a total of $383.27, but her scheme involved 12 individual accounts, and victimized six taxpayers, the prosecution stated.
