Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Zandra Arguelles, a.k.a. Zandra Ilo, to one year imprisonment for each of the two separate counts of document fraud, to be served consecutively and all suspended except for two days with credit for time already served.
Wiseman said if the defendant will not leave the CNMI within 45 days, she will be on supervised probation for the remainder of her suspended sentence.
Arguelles was charged with two counts of document fraud, one count of immigration fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice for presenting papers to the Division of Immigration as an immediate relative of another man to gain residence in the CMMI in 2007.
The defendant entered into a plea agreement with the government on Dec. 23, 2008 and pleaded guilty to two counts of document fraud. In exchange, the government dismissed all the other charges against her.
Wiseman ordered the defendant to pay a total of $550 for permit fees and immigration fees for 2007 and 2008. She must pay these before her departure. She will also assist law enforcement officials in any ongoing investigation against her co-defendants.
Arguelles’ bail of $1,000 posted on Sept. 2-5 last year will be applied to permit fees, fine, court fees and the remaining $375 will be returned to the one who posted the bail.
The clerk of court was also ordered to release the defendant’s travel documents to the Immigration officials.
Records show that on April 13, 2007, Arguelles presented to the Division of Immigration that she intended to stay in the CNMI as an immediate relative to Ryan Ray Ilo for the sole purpose of obtaining an immediate relative entry.
Wiseman has sentenced Argulles’s husband Ilo to two years imprisonment, all suspended except for two months, after he pleaded guilty to immigration fraud.
