THE Office of the Attorney General has filed another case against Chief Parole Officer Nick Masga Reyes, this time accusing him of committing theft by deception.
F&S Corporation owner Chuilian Fu was named as co-defendant.
Reyes and Fu are each charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, and one count of theft by deception.
According to the information filed by Assistant Attorney General James Robert Kingman, “On or about Oct. 4, 2022, on Saipan …, Nick Masga Reyes, agreed with … Chuilian Fu, that one or both would engage in or solicit theft of property by deception, to wit, the construction of a patio at the Parole Office purported to be constructed by a tailoring company owned by Chulian Fu, F&S Corporation, in the amount of $9,997.80, but actually constructed by uncompensated labor performed by parolees under the direction of Nick Masga Reyes, made punishable by 6 CMC §1603.”
“One or both defendants committed at least one overt act in pursuance of the conspiracy, to wit procuring the contract, authorizing payment, performing the construction, issuing invoices, and sending communications regarding the conspiracy, made unlawful by 6 CMC §303. Defendant Nick Masga Reyes was a public official, to wit Chief Parole Officer, and committed the above conduct under color of office, made unlawful by 6 CMC §3203 and made punishable by 6 CMC §3203(c) for imprisonment for not more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $50,000,” the information stated.
“On or about Oct. 4, 2022, on Saipan, Reyes purposely obtained the property of another, to wit U.S. currency of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, by deception, by creating or failing to correct the false impression that F&S Corporation would perform the construction of a patio at the Office of Parole, to wit, authorizing the expenditure of $9,987.00 to F&S Corporation, made unlawful by 6 CMC §1603 and made punishable by 6 CMC §1603 for imprisonment for not more than five years,” the information added.
As for Chuilian Fu, he “purposely obtained the property of another, to wit U.S. currency of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, by deception, by creating or failing to correct the false impression that F&S Corporation constructed or would construct a patio at the Office of Parole, to wit, accepting payment of $9,997.80 to F&S Corporation for which service was not rendered, made unlawful by 6 CMC §1603 and made punishable by 6 CMC §1603 for imprisonment for not more than five years.”
On Feb. 6, Clerk of Court Patrick Diaz issued penal summons for both Reyes and Fu, who were ordered to appear before a Superior Court judge on March 4, 2024, at 9 a.m. in courtroom 202A.
“If you do not appear, an application may be made for the issuance of a warrant for your arrest,” Diaz said.
“You are entitled to be represented by a lawyer. If you are unable to afford a lawyer, you may be entitled to the services of an appointed lawyer at no expense to you. To apply for the services, please contact the Office of Probation at 236-9865/70,” Diaz added.
In a separate information filed against Reyes, the OAG accused him of committing forgery. Reyes was charged with one count of misconduct in public office and four counts of forgery, and was summoned to appear before a judge on March 4.
