Poker robbery suspect enters plea agreement

A third defendant to the poker robbery case in the U.S. District Court copped a plea agreement with federal prosecutors yesterday, while another pled no contest only for failure to report to authorities when the group plotted the crime.
Joaquin Dela Cruz Cango, 19, admitted to robbing Sun Poker and LJ’s store in As Matuis at two separate incidents that occurred last January where he and his friends took a total of $2,200 after threatening their cashiers.

He told District Judge Alex R. Munson that they used a stick to hit Sun Poker’s cashier Eliah MD Ashik from whom they got $2,000 on Jan. 6, and $200 from LJ’s cashier Lin Lee Ong on Jan. 26.

Joaquin could face imprisonment of up to eight years for the two counts of robbery — much lower than the maximum penalty of 20 years in jail for each count and a fine of $500,000 if he were convicted by a jury.

In addition, the court would order him to pay restitution for the money they stole as well as assessment fee of $200 for the two counts. His sentencing was set on November 14.

Judge Munson, however, denied the defense’s motion for his temporary release from U.S. custody despite recommendation by lead prosecutor Assistant Attorney David T. Wood of $50,000 unsecured bond.

He said Joaquin is a substantial risk to the community being a convicted felon for armed robbery.

The defendant was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in Seattle, Washington last June after robbery, conspiracy and gun charges were filed here.

But the prosecution dropped three counts from the indictment sheet — two for conspiracy to commit offense and one for firearm possession — as part of the plea agreement.

In exchange, Joaquin agreed to cooperate with authorities in the prosecution of the case which involved five of his friends, three of which had earlier struck a similar deal with the District Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Wood said the gun charge was dismissed after it was found out that Joaquin and his associates used a bat to threaten the cashier of Sun Poker, while a gun used in robbing LJ was found to be in possession of a lookout.

Last month, Sidney Capelle Kani, 19, also pled guilty to the two robbery counts, while Kenneth Teigita Dowai, 23, copped guilty plea on one count each of robbery, conspiracy and gun possession.

Sidney, who was released to the custody of his father on a $50,000 unsecured bond, could face less than seven years in prison based on the prosecution’s recommendation. Kenneth could be sent to jail for eight years or less for all three counts which the prosecution recommended to run concurrently.

The two were the first six defendants, who also included Juan Teigita, 22; Rodney Demei, 22 and Jeffery Tegei, 21; to admit their responsibility for the incidents.

Rodney, however, pled no contest to one count of concealing and failure to report the crime to authorities based on a separate criminal case stemming from the Jan. 6 robbery of Sun Poker.

Under the law, the felony carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a year of supervised release, probation of five years and a fine of $250,000.

In exchange for his plea, the prosecution recommended a sentence of five years probation, according to Mr. Wood.