By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
Angel Paras Cruz Jr., owner of Villa De Cruz Apartelle and World Electric & Construction Co. Inc., has pleaded guilty to three counts of visa fraud in federal court and now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Paras’s sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2026, at 9 a.m., before Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, who accepted his guilty plea and vacated the jury trial previously set for Dec. 16.
Cruz was initially charged with eight counts of visa fraud and five counts of fraud in foreign labor contracting.
He was represented by attorneys Mark Scoggins and Robert T. Torres. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Back appeared for the government.
According to the indictment, Cruz knowingly submitted false statements under penalty of perjury on multiple occasions—Dec. 21, 2022; Aug. 9, 2023; Nov. 8, 2023; and Jan. 31, 2024—on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-129CW. In each instance, he certified that his companies would pay foreign workers in accordance with CNMI and federal labor laws, including the terms of their employment contracts.
However, the indictment states that Cruz did not intend to pay the workers for all hours worked or provide overtime compensation for work exceeding 40 hours per week.
Cruz pleaded guilty to counts two, three, and four of the indictment. Each count of visa fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
As part of his plea agreement, Cruz agreed to pay $28,273.31 in restitution to the affected workers.
The agreement also states that Cruz petitioned for six foreign workers using Form I-129CW, falsely attesting that they would be paid in compliance with applicable labor laws, but failed to compensate them for overtime work.
