Visa Fraud Scheme Results In Federal Criminal Charges

SAIPAN — Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, United States Attorney for the District of Guam and the Northern Marina Island, announced the filing on October 22, 2013, of federal criminal charges against MARIANO K. PANGELINAN, ROSABELLA P. CRUZ, and HELEN N. APARENTE, stemming from their involvement with a corporation called ARCH INTERNATIONAL (hereinafter called ARCH).

The federal criminal indictment is attached. It alleges that the three individuals held ARCH out as a recruiting agency that could help aliens obtain jobs and employment-based CW-1 permits for certain fees, but, after taking various fees from the aliens, did not find them jobs but instead submitted CW-1 petitions to federal immigration authorities in which they falsely stated that ARCH itself employed the aliens.
The indictment charges Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud and to Defraud the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 371; Visa Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1546(a); and False Statement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1001(a)(2). The Conspiracy and False Statement charges carry maximum potential sentences of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The Visa Fraud charges carry a maximum potential sentence of ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Defendants PANGELINAN and CRUZ made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy on October 25, 2013, and were arraigned before U.S. District Court Judge Ramona V. Manglona on November 4, 2013. Trial is scheduled for December 30, 2013, at 10:00 AM. Defendant APARENTE is still at large.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross K. Naughton.

Indictment