The U.S. government wants to seize a boat owned by former lieutenant governor Timothy P. Villagomez.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O'Malley has notified the U.S. District Court for the NMI that during Villagomez's sentencing, the U.S. government will move for a final order of forfeiture of a boat registered to the former official.
O'Malley described the boat as a 1994 Yamaha 311 Boat, Hull No. 0811087, registered to Villagomez under the name “Dr. V.”
The prosecutor said the boat “was either involved in the offense or was a traceable proceed of the crime.”
The prosecution's theory was that Villagomez's efforts to push the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to enter into a contract with Blue Pacific was repayment for a loan to buy a boat.
Villagomez's sister, Joaquina V. Santos, owns Blue Pacific, which was licensed to engage in the business of “general retail merchandising.”
Former CUC executive director Anthony Guerrero testified that Villagomez admitted to borrowing between $45,000 to $60,000 from his sister (Joaquina Santos) and brother-in-law (former Commerce chief James Santos) to purchase a boat named “Dr. V.”
The prosecution presented to the court during the trial a check dated Oct. 31, 2006, for $50,000 that was drawn upon Islas Micronesia Sales' bank account. The check was signed by Islas' owner James Santos and was made payable to Villagomez.
The defense, however, asserted that there was nothing wrong for a sister to help his brother borrow money.
Last April 25, Villagomez and the Santos couple were found guilty of charges relating to a scheme to defraud CUC through needless purchases of a de-scaling chemical called Rydlyme.
The sentencing for the three is set for Wednesday, Aug. 5, starting at 8am.
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