Luis K. Pelisamen appeared in court with his counsel, David Banes, who said they needed more time to prepare for the case.
The federal government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Benedetto.
Munson said the jury trial will start on Dec. 3, 2008.
The 56-year old defendant was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Jan. 17 and was charged with co-defendant, attorney Joseph Aldan Arriola, for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
According to the prosecution, the two stole $625,575 from the Rita Kaipat estate’s account.
Pelisamen was hired as the administrator for Rita Kaipat’s estate account while Arriola was counsel to the administrator.
The indictment stated that from Sept. 26, 2005 to May 2006, the two defendants conspired to take money from the estate account.
The defendant received his full compensation as administrator amounting to $161,500 but Arriola had no right to any further compensation, the indictment stated.
It added that the two defendants drafted 66 checks from Nov. 30, 2005 to May 10, 2006 drawn against the estate account.
A check was also drafted for $386,500 payable to Pelisamen which was deposited in his wife’s account, and another check drafted for $219,000 payable to Arriola.
Records further showed that on Dec. 15 and 20, 2005, the defendants drafted checks in the amounts of $10,000 and $10,075 payable to Joeten Motors for the initial and full payment of a 2005 Nissan Frontier. Both checks were drawn against the estate account.
On Nov. 28, 2005, the two defendants transmitted wire transfer for special clearing of a cashier’s check worth $1,377.058.29 as shown by the electronic communications between the CNMI and Honolulu, Hawaii, the indictment stated.
The CNMI Superior Court required Pelisamen to obtain authorization from the court before withdrawing any money from the Kaipat estate account.
