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US govt sues BOE’s Taitano, husband
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Posted on Oct 26 2006
The U.S. government filed yesterday a lawsuit against a convicted former Customs official, Crispin A. Taitano, and his wife, Board of Education member Marja Lee Taitano, for alleged fraudulent transfer of their assets.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic P. David asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to issue an order setting aside the transfer of the funds and to have these money paid to the U.S. government.
David also asked the court to jointly hold the Taitano couple liable to pay the U.S. government the amount of $135,522.35.
David said the transfer of the Taitano couple’s property “was made to hinder, delay, or defraud the U.S.”
David stated in the complaint that Mr. Taitano, who is currently in federal prison, is indebted to the U.S. for a criminal fine of $10,000; special assessment fee of $100; monthly imprisonment cost of $1,933.80; and monthly supervised cost $287.73.
David said Mr. Taitano was further ordered to pay such criminal monetary penalties in equal installments of $500 over a period of 20 months to commence 30 days after the date of judgment.
“As of Sept. 13, 2006, a total of $1,300 has been paid over and applied toward the special assessment fee and fine. The debt remains outstanding in the amount of $135,522.35,” the lawyer alleged.
David said that on June 15,2004, the Taitano couple were joint owners of a time certificate of deposit account at the Bank of Guam.
The lawyer said that after his sentencing on Sept. 6, 2005 and his debts to the U.S arose, Mr. Taitano transferred and conveyed all his interests in the certificate of deposit account to his wife.
Such transfer, the prosecutor said, leaves Mrs. Taitano the sole owner and sole signature authority in the account. The value of such transfer and conveyance of property is at least $100,000, she said.
In September 2005, the federal court imposed a five-year jail term without parole on Mr. Taitano for engaging in child pornography. In May 2005, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.
