On Sunday, federal agents brought Ma. Nina Dolot Castro, also known as Maria, or Marnie, to the U.S. District Court for the NMI for her initial appearance.
Chief Judge Ramona Villagomez Manglona allowed Castro’s pretrial release on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler informed the court that U.S. Immigration had already notified the Philippine Consulate General regarding Castro’s arrest.
In his complaint, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations special agent Clayton T. Statler said Castro accepted money orders to pay certain application fees, but instead used the money orders for her own purposes, from on or about Oct. 27, 2009 through on or about March 2001.
Castro was an employee at the Danilo T. Aguilar law office, according to court documents.
The victims, a couple, reported to ICE on Aug. 26, 2011 that Castro was not filing their immigration applications.
The couple said Castro was using the application fees intended for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services “for her personal use or to pay the fee for applications belonging to other people.”
The applications were to adjust the status of the couple’s two minor children to lawful permanent resident status.
Four money orders were received by USCIS on Dec. 21, 2009, but not the fifth money order, amounting to $1,000, the complaint stated.
