Robber gets five years
Because he attempted to steal a bag from a Japanese tourist, a 44-year old Saipan man will be spending the next five years and three months of his life in prison.
Francisco Reyes Santos will also be placed under three years of supervised release after the jail term and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.
The penalties are all part of his guilty plea to one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery brought against him in the U.S. District Court by federal prosecutors.
Mr. Santos accepted responsibility for the crime last May, telling District Judge Alex R. Munson that he did it out of desperation.
The charge stemmed from his failed attempt to rob Japanese tourist Minako Sekei of her cash and valuables in the parking lot of the DFS Galleria in October last year.
Ms. Sekei was able to hold onto her purse containing a camera, $200 cash, 60,000 yen and credit cards, but was dragged away 10 to 20 meters resulting to injuries, according to court documents.
Mr. Santos fled after failing to take her purse aboard a rented car. A DFS employee was able to scribble the car’s plate number, which was instrumental to the suspect’s arrest by authorities.
He was one of several people believed to have victimized tourists and pedestrians alike by snatching their bags and belongings while walking in the Garapan tourist district over the past few months.
