Woman gets guilty, not guilty verdicts

A woman accused of conspiring with her daughter to steal money from six alien workers through deception got a guilty verdict yesterday on one count of conspiracy and a not guilty verdict on two counts of theft by deception.

The jury reached its verdict in the case against Natividad C. Sablan after deliberating for a few hours.

Superior Court Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama set the sentencing for April 19, 2006.

Lizama will decide in 15 days the immigration fraud charge.

The judge asked assistant attorney general Eric O’Malley and defense counsel Stephanie Flores to submit their arguments with respect to the immigration fraud charge.

On Jan. 1, 2005, the Attorney General’s Office charged the 58-year-old Sablan and her daughter, Geraldine D. Sebaklim, 37, with eight counts of theft by deception, eight counts of conspiracy to commit theft by deception, three counts of forgery, and one count of immigration fraud.

In addition, Sebaklim was charged with issuance of bad checks.

O’Malley stated in the information that Sebaklim and Sablan conspired to steal money through deception from Xianli Zeng in the amount of $4,500; Chunying Li, $4,500; Shunyu Cai, $3,200; Shan Luo, $1,300; Fangyong Bin, $1,300; and Yong Lai, $1,300.

O’Malley said the defendants deceived the victims on April 10 and 14, 2004, Dec. 19, 2003, and in October 2003.

The prosecutor said that, on April 14, the defendants forged the names of Shan Luo, Fangyong Bin and Yong Lai on the “Michigan list.” The “Michigan list” is a listing of Michigan garment factory employees.

The defendants also allegedly tampered with official CNMI Immigration or Labor documents by altering the “Michigan list” last April.

O’Malley said on July 12, Sebaklim issued a bad check in the amount of $80,000 made payable to Zhao Lianyu.

On Jan.23, 2006, the AGO filed a second amended information charging Sebaklim with eight counts of theft by deception, one count of conspiracy to commit theft by deception, one count of forgery, one count of immigration fraud, and one count of issuance of bad checks.

Sebaklim and counsel assistant public defender Adam Hardwick signed a plea agreement with the government. She recently pleaded guilty to theft by deception.

Lizama accepted Sebaklim’s plea and sentenced her to four years in prison, all suspended except the time she had already served in jail.

Lizama placed the defendant on four years of probation and required her to pay $13,625 in restitution.

Sablan denied the charges and proceeded with the trial.