By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
VENERANDO Martin pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of visa fraud.
Martin, 55, a Philippine national, was accused of fraudulently filing green card applications for himself and 242 others under the C16 eligibility category, which requires continuous residence in the United States since before Jan. 1, 1972.
He was initially indicted on five counts of visa fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
At his change-of-plea hearing, Martin was represented by attorney Mark Scoggins. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI found Martin competent to enter a knowing and voluntary plea. She scheduled sentencing for April 17 at 9 a.m., vacated the jury trial previously set for Jan. 6, and unsealed the plea agreement.
According to the agreement, Martin “knowingly possessed, obtained, accepted, or received a document prescribed by statute or regulation as evidence of authorized employment in the United States” and “knew the document had been procured by means of any false claim or statement, or to have been otherwise procured by fraud or unlawfully obtained.”
The plea agreement cited five individuals who received Employment Authorization Documents under the C16 category. It also noted that between June 18 and Nov. 6, 2024, Martin submitted more than 100 other Form I-765 applications falsely claiming eligibility under C16.
The charges also seek forfeiture of assets tied to the crimes, or substitute property if the original assets cannot be recovered.
According to the complaint, Homeland Security Investigations–Saipan received tips in August 2024 from independent sources, including USCIS, about suspicious immigration filings. Investigators said about 242 applications for Employment Authorization Documents under C16 listed the same Saipan mailing address linked to Martin.
Records show Martin first entered the United States (Saipan) on Sept. 10, 2000. Investigators said he submitted Form I-765 and Form I-485 on June 25, 2023, using the same address. USCIS issued him an EAD while his I-485 was pending.
A review of the application revealed Martin selected the C16 category despite border-crossing records and his own statements confirming he had not been continuously present in the U.S. since before 1972. Additional filings in March 2024 tied to his address raised further red flags, investigators said.
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.
