During yesterday’s proceedings, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson ordered the waiver for a speedy trial pleading of the three defendants after finding that “the ends of justice would be served by allowing the defense further time to review the evidence in preparation for trial.”
Villagomez appeared in court with his attorney Joey San Nicolas; James Santos with attorney Joaquin Torres; and Joaquina Santos with attorney Ramon Quichocho.
The federal government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley.
Munson ordered that the defendants remain at liberty under the same terms and conditions previously set by the court.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the indictment charging them with conspiracy to defraud the federal government, wire fraud and theft concerning federal funds.
The fourth defendant, former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Executive Director Anthony C. Guerrero, entered into a plea agreement on Aug. 9, 2008.
Designated Federal Judge David A. Wiseman granted the motion of U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley to set bail at $50,000 each for the temporary release of Villagomez, Mr. Santos and his wife, who is the lt. governor’s sister.
Guerrero’s sentencing was set for Nov. 12.
Villagomez served as CUC executive director from April 1994 to Jan. 2002. James Santos owned Islas Micronesia Sales, while Joaquina V. Santos owned Blue Pacific, a company engaged in general retail merchandising where Mr. Santos was an authorized agent.
The 12-page indictment stated that beginning Feb. 2, 1998, Villagomez and Mr. Santos initiated a scheme where the defendants conspired to bilk the CNMI government out of thousands of dollars through business deals involving chemical purchases that CUC did not need.
