By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has approved a consent judgment ordering the forfeiture of more than $108,000 to the United States and the return of the remaining funds seized from two Bank of Saipan accounts linked to an alleged international money-laundering and bribery conspiracy involving efforts to influence CNMI government officials on behalf of casino developer Imperial Pacific International.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona issued the Consent Judgment of Forfeiture on May 1, formally resolving the U.S. government’s civil forfeiture case against Marianas Consultancy Services, LLC or MCS and its owner, Alfred Yue.
The judgment covers $310,276.26 seized from two MCS accounts — $271,087.88 from one account and $39,188.38 from another. Federal prosecutors alleged that the funds were part of a broader scheme involving wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. According to the amended complaint, the money was used to promote efforts to improperly influence CNMI officials “in exchange for preferential treatment,” thereby depriving the public of honest government services.
The court document states that the amended complaint alleged the seized funds were “properties involved in a wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy” and are subject to forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A).
Settlement terms
Under the consent judgment:
$201,679.57 will be returned to MCS and Yue through their attorney, Mark B. Hanson.
$108,596.69, plus interest, is forfeited to the United States.
The returned amount may be reduced if the U.S. Treasury applies offsets for delinquent debts.
The judgment states that MCS and Yue do not admit wrongdoing but agreed that a sufficient factual basis exists to support forfeiture as part of an “amicable resolution.”
“Nothing…is intended to be or should be interpreted as an admission of fault, wrongdoing, liability, or guilt on claimants’ part,” the judgment states.
Broader allegations
The consent judgment resolves only the forfeiture of the funds and not the underlying allegations, which remain unproven.
In the first amended verified complaint, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikel W. Schwab sought forfeiture of the two MCS accounts, alleging the funds were tied to a conspiracy involving foreign entities and individuals in the CNMI to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation led the probe.
The complaint alleged that MCS was owned and operated by A.Y., the sole signatory on both accounts, and that the scheme relied on international wire transfers to facilitate efforts to influence CNMI officials. It further alleged that four unnamed individuals — two business partners and two political figures with fiduciary duties to the public — played roles in the conspiracy.
The “Company” referenced in the complaint was developing a resort and casino in the CNMI. Imperial Pacific International, the only licensed casino operator in Saipan, matches that description.
Prosecutors alleged that the funds were part of a bribery and influence-peddling scheme tied to IPI’s operations. The company operated its Saipan casino from 2015 until its closure in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Second warrant of arrest in rem
In April, the court issued a second warrant of arrest in rem for the funds — originally seized in 2019 — after prosecutors filed the amended complaint. A warrant in rem authorizes the seizure of property rather than the arrest of a person and is used in forfeiture cases involving assets allegedly connected to criminal activity.
The warrant directed the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies to take possession of the funds.
Claimants deny wrongdoing
MCS and A.Y., represented by attorney Mark B. Hanson, filed a verified claim asserting ownership of the seized funds and denying all allegations of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering.
They acknowledged a consulting agreement with IPI and its parent company and said fees were deposited into the two Bank of Saipan accounts. A.Y. also stated he made “various donations and contributions from his own money” prior to June 2014.
Procedural history and closure
The U.S. government filed its original forfeiture complaint on Dec. 30, 2022.
MCS and Yue filed their verified claim in February 2023.
A supplemental notice of forfeiture was published in the Marianas Variety on Feb. 13, 2026, with a March 16 deadline for third-party claims; none were filed.
The parties reached a settlement in 2026, leading to the consent judgment.
Judge Manglona found that federal agents had reasonable cause to seize the funds and that the agreement resolves all civil, criminal, and administrative forfeiture actions related to the accounts.
The court ordered the case closed but retained jurisdiction to enforce the settlement.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
