Family and friends of former lieutenant governor Timothy Villagomez have written individual letters to ask the federal court to be lenient when it sentences him on July 28.
The court convicted Villagomez, James A. Santos, and Joaquina Santos of defrauding the U.S. government by conspiring to make the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. buy unnecessary supplies of a chemical.
The federal court received a total of 32 letters of support for Villagomez, including one from his wife, his children, and former colleagues in government service.
Bishop Tomas Camacho also sent a message, certifying Villagomez's good standing in the community. Camacho said he wrote the letter at the request of Villagomez and the Santos couple.
Lawyer Kathryn Delafield, who was hired as in-house counsel for CUC by Villagomez in 1996 and worked with him until he left CUC in 2002, wants the court to consider in-home detention.
She said Villagomez has no past record of bad acts and he has young children, a wife, a mother and a family who need him in their lives.
Teacher Steve Gilles said Villagomez made mistakes, but he is also an excellent role model in many other ways and that his family has already suffered and will suffer much.
Retired U.S. Navy commander David W. Trandal said Villagomez demonstrated sound, intelligent judgment and “I would be happy to have such an individual reside in my neighborhood and to be a neighbor.”
“I am asking for leniency when you sentence Tim. Please do not take their father away from [his children] as they do not know life without him. He is a good husband, a good man, one who is loved dearly and cherished by many,” wife Margaret Keene Villagomez said in a four-page letter to U.S. District Court for CNMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson.
She said her husband is a loving and devoted son, husband and father, helping a lot of people and has impressed upon others that he can be counted upon for almost everything.
“One of the biggest mistakes that he has ever made, in my opinion, was that he entered the uncertain world of politics where some of the people that he helped would one day be the cause of his demise,” she said.
Eldest child Renaesha LeAnn Fleming Villagomez told the court that the decision it will make will have an impact on his family's lives.
“Our father is a person of no harm and so I kindly ask of you again to please give leniency to my father,” she said.
Another daughter, Rita Villagomez, and brother Peter Michael Tenorio, made a similar appeal.
Pastor Rev. Fr. Charlie A. Borja also expressed support, saying that Villagomez's mistake would teach him to be a better and stronger man of faith.
Former wife Alicia Fleming, with whom he has had four children, said, “Timothy is a great father and a very proud grandfather.”
Their son, Jose Fleming Villagomez, and daughter Juanita Fleming also sent a letter of appeal.
Fleming's sister, Tania Fleming Mesa, said that Villagomez deserves a second chance to prove himself worthy of the trust and love that his friends and family have in him.
Fleming's brother, George Fleming Jr., also wrote a similar appeal as well as relative Jesus Villagomez DL Guerrero, close friend Clarence Tenorio, Pedro Sasamoto, former CPA co-employee Clyde K. Norita, nieces Jacqueline V. Santos, and Yasmin Miles, and other relatives.
Rep. Diego Benavente said Villagomez remains a respectful and modest public servant in spite of the predicament he finds himself.
Lawyer Robert Torres, said his client is no different than other offenders in public corruption cases who have denied their gifts and talents in pursuit of brazen, if not blind, ambition.
“But Tim remains to me someone whom I care for and whom I support unequivocably and without hesitation. I stake my name and reputation as an officer of this court in writing this letter,” he said.
Villagomez's 9-year old son, Timmy, wrote “If you give them probation that would be the best thing that will ever happen to me.
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