Nestor Camacho Taitano entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and two counts of passing counterfeit obligations.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson ordered Taitano to be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Office after the hearing.
On Monday last week, Munson granted Taitano’s waiver of speedy trial after finding that the ends of justice would be served by allowing the defense more time to review the evidence in preparation for trial.
Taitano, his brother Lukas Taitano Manglona and Kisha Lyn Masga King were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the CNMI Department of Public Safety after an indictment was filed against them in federal court on Feb. 26, 2009.
Taitano and King were indicted for one count of conspiracy to utter counterfeit obligations and securities, and three counts of counterfeiting.
Taitano and Manglona were indicted for one count of conspiracy to utter counterfeit obligations and securities, and one count of counterfeiting.
U.S. Assistant Attorney James Benedetto stated in the indictment that the three defendants used counterfeit bills on Jan. 12, 2009, to defraud four establishments on Saipan.
Taitano gave King a fake $50 bill to buy $10 gasoline at the Koblerville Shell gas station, another fake $50 bill to pay for clothing or other items at the Tapo Fashion, and another fake $50 to buy items at Fashion Avenue.
Taitano provided his brother a fake $50 bill to buy cigarettes and a lighter at Nang Ocha Store in San Vicente. King and Manglona then gave Taitano the change from all the fake bills.
King pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to utter counterfeit obligations and securities, and three counts of passing counterfeit obligations.
King will be sentenced on July 14 at 9 a.m.
Manglona, however, was determined to be incompetent to stand trial.
This, according to Assistant Public Defender Douglas W. Hartig, was based on the findings of Dr. Ron Meister, a mental health professional.
