Boni Sagana
THE federal court has granted the request of Bonifacio “Boni” Sagana to self-surrender at the Federal Correctional Institution in Thomson, Illinois.
In an order issued on Friday, Jan. 12, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI said Sagana can self-surrender at such date and time as to be determined by the Bureau of Prisons’ Designation Section.
She recommends having Sagana surrender no sooner than 30 days after the order so his family will have adequate time to make travel arrangements.
“At least seven days prior to his departure from Saipan, Mr. Sagana shall submit his itinerary to the U.S. Marshals Service and the Probation Office, whereupon the Probation Office shall release his passport to him,” Judge Manglona said.
In her order, the judge said Sagana does not pose a danger of criminal conduct or risk failing to appear.
“First, Sagana was convicted of a non-violent felony. Second, Sagana was arrested in Green Bay, Wisconsin for the instant case and he complied with the order issued in the Eastern District of Wisconsin to travel to Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands without accompaniment by law enforcement to face the pending charge against him,” the judge said.
“It is important to note that Sagana was lawfully working in Wisconsin at the time of his arrest. Third, Sagana remained compliant while on pretrial release and remains compliant with the terms of supervision while he awaits placement. Fourth, Sagana would forfeit his appeal if he were to flee,” the judge added.
As defense counsel notes, the judge said, such a move would affirm his conviction, and as a fugitive from justice, he would never be eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility to the United States, where all his children and grandchildren live.
“Sagana has been a lawful resident of the CNMI for over three decades and has children and grandchildren living here. He was a pillar of the Filipino and foreign worker community in Saipan for more than 30 years. Sagana’s prior actions, ties to the community, and the severe consequences of fleeing warrant in favor of permitting Sagana to self-surrender,” the judge added.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Flores opposed Sagana’s request, saying that the defendant is a convicted felon facing two years’ imprisonment and possible deportation proceedings, and may have the “temptation” to flee to the Philippines rather than report to the Bureau of Prisons.
In Dec. 2023, the federal court sentenced Sagana to 24 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme to produce fraudulent CNMI driver’s licenses.
After serving his sentence, Sagana will be placed under three years of supervised release. He will also perform 50 hours of community service in lieu of a fine and at the direction of the U.S. Probation Office.
The court has allowed Sagana to remain released.
