By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo has sentenced Angel Ruben to 10 years in prison, with five years suspended, for his role in restraining a cashier and stealing more than $5,000 from AK Poker on Beach Road, Garapan, in broad daylight on Oct. 1, 2025.
Ruben, represented by attorney Richard Miller, pleaded guilty to robbery on Feb. 12. Assistant Attorney General Heather Barcinas appeared for the government.
In a four-page judgment of conviction and commitment order, Judge Govendo ruled that Ruben, 40, must serve his sentence in CR 25‑0102 day-for-day, without the possibility of parole or early release. He received 128 days of credit for time served and is scheduled for release from the Department of Corrections on Oct. 27, 2030.
In a separate case, CR 17‑0155, Ruben was ordered to serve the full five years of his previously suspended sentence. That term will run concurrently with his sentence in the AK Poker robbery case.
Upon release, Ruben will be placed on 10 years of supervised probation. During that period, he must stay away from AK Poker and is jointly and severally liable with co-defendant Amanda Kaipat to pay $4,057 in restitution. He must also pay $125 in court and probation fees and complete 160 hours of community service at a rate of eight hours per month.
As a condition of probation, Ruben must cooperate with the Office of the Attorney General and “truthfully testify” against Kaipat in any hearing or court proceeding. He must also submit to random drug and alcohol testing. Any violation may result in revocation of probation.
No additional information on Kaipat, who is also charged with robbery, was available as of press time Monday.
According to the complaint, the cashier told police that Ruben and Kaipat entered the game room together. Kaipat asked her to unlock the restroom and step out of the cashier’s booth. As the cashier returned, Ruben grabbed her and demanded the keys to the cash register. The cashier said Ruben held her to the ground during the struggle, while Kaipat, who had exited the restroom, helped take the keys.
The victim told police that Ruben said, “Just give me the keys, so no more problem,” while Kaipat warned, “If you fight, run away or make noise, we’re going to kill you.”
The cashier reported that $5,052 was taken from the drawer. Police investigators said surveillance footage from inside and outside the establishment showed Ruben and Kaipat entering the poker arcade, restraining the cashier, and struggling with her. Footage from the cashier booth also showed Ruben entering, opening the booth door, and leaving with the stolen money.
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.
