Travilla testifies at BOOST hearing, Flores moves to find him in contempt

Robert Travilla appeared during the House of Representatives special committee’s hearing yesterday, but at the advice of his lawyer refused to answer most of the questions.

One of the questions asked was whether Travilla accepted checks in the total amount of $323,415 in three months in 2022 for marketing services, relating to the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability grant program.

Travilla repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right, which protects people from self-incrimination, in response to many questions from members of the Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-related Funding. He declined to answer questions upon the advice of his counsel, Joseph Horey.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan), did not act on Rep. Marissa Renee Flores’ (Ind-Saipan) motion to find Travilla in contempt and asked the witness and his counsel, Horey, to report back today, Friday, at 10am.

In offering the motion to find Travilla in contempt, Flores said the witness has repeatedly been asked questions and has repeatedly refused to testify under oath.

Flores further moved that the committee transmit a report to the House and have House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) send a statement of contempt to the Attorney General’s Office for further prosecution in the CNMI court of law.

Before offering the motion, Flores presented, among other documents, showing that from Aug. 11, 2022 to Dec. 12, 2022, Nonstop Corp., which Travilla is the vice president, was paid a total of $323,415.

“Now sir, you could imagine why you are here. Am I right?” Flores told Travilla.

Travilla, and Nonstop Corp. president Salina Sapp, and Shayne Villanueva, of Roil Soil, were in charge of marketing the BOOST Program. The committee had already found Villanueva in contempt for refusing to answer questions.

At the start of the hearing yesterday, Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao (Ind-Saipan) presented Travilla’s declaration dated Dec. 14, 2023 in which Travilla attests that he does not have in his possession, custody, or control any record of any BOOST-related communications between Nonstop Corp. and William Mendiola Castro, and any invoices, or proof of payments to subcontractors used for BOOST.

Castro used to serve as chief of staff of then-governor Ralph DLG Torres.

Travilla agreed with Attao that he does not have any additional communications to include emails, text messages, or WhatsApp messages between him and Castro.

Travilla, however, said upon advice of his counsel he declined to answer based on 1CMC 1307 C and the Fifth Amendment to Attao’s question that he does not have any invoices, proof of payments, or any documents concerning subcontracts used for BOOST other than what he has already provided the committee.

Attao told Travilla that he has that right, but pointed out that under 1 CMC 1306 “a person shall be held in contempt if the person fails or refuses to answer any relevant questions, or refuses to furnish any relevant book, paper, or other documents subpoenaed by or on behalf of an investigating committee.”

Travilla replied that he is aware of that.

Travilla agreed with Attao that he recalled when he appeared before the committee on Feb. 20, 2024, he and his counsel provided additional documents that were not included in his original production.

The witness, however, declined to answer to the question that as he appeared before the committee that day (yesterday), if he has additional documents that are responsive to the committee’s subpoena sent to him to produce some documents.

In response to Attao’s question about his postsecondary educational background and professional credentials, Travilla said he was accepted to two colleges in his senior year but his parents couldn’t afford to pay for his post-secondary education.

Travilla said his professional credentials started when he was 15 years old when he worked in his uncle’s tattoo shop.

He said when he turned 19, he worked for the Department of Homeland Security, and was employed there for 10 years as a behavior detection officer.

Travilla said shortly after that he started a business and in 2015 started another company, Tribe Marianas.

He said he started doing his business ventures in 2006 dealing with clothing and graphic design.

Travilla said he does not have a degree or any certification in marketing or advertising.

In answering questions by Rep. Angelo Camacho (Ind-Saipan), Travilla said Nonstop Corp., which was officially established in 2022, is a premier marketing agency specializing in digital marketing, creative branding, business consultation, and merchant services.

He said Nonstop was established in Guam, but they do have a proper license in the CNMI.

Travilla said it’s him and Sapp who are the principal stakeholders of Nonstop.

He said his official title with Nonstop is director of sales and marketing.

Travilla said currently they don’t have employees with Nonstop, but previously they did have four employees.

He said they don’t have employees in Guam for Nonstop.

Travilla said he can’t recall the names of their four former employees and their roles as he was not in charge of that department.

He said the company was initially started in Guam and just because they do want to do business both in Guam and Saipan.

Travilla said he is from Saipan and Sapp is from Guam, and they do have businesses on both islands.

Travilla refused to answer many questions raised by Rep. Diego Camacho (D-Saipan) such as when did he first hear about the BOOST program, from whom did he hear about the BOOST Program, if Nonstop did apply for BOOST, if any of his companies or companies he has a stake on applied for BOOST, was there a Request for Proposal or a request for quotation that was issued for the marketing of the BOOST Program that he responded to, who initiated the conversation between Bank of Saipan and Nonstop for the marketing of the BOOST Program, how was Nonstop selected to receive the marketing contract for the BOOST Program.

Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan) said of the things they specifically asked in the subpoena was communications between Travilla and Castro.

Propst’s showed a document about a WhatsApp group chat that says that on Oct. 3, 2022, Travilla created Creative Group BOOST workforce and Travilla added different members.

Travilla refused to answer Propst’s questions related to the group chat and what the reason why he did not give that Whatsapp chat document to the committee.

Propst noted that Castro stated in that Whatsapp Group Chat, “marketing can handle, ur role is to get the workforce people into the community, identify ARPA/Temp hires and move ‘em to our partners and marketing is to cover that…produce ads etc.”

Propst said Castro also stated “I need u to manage the actual program on my behalf. Ur the workhorse here darlin’. I fathom u execute. Rob and Salina make it shinny.”

Rep. John Paul P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) presented a document about a general service agreement between Bank of Saipan and Nonstop originally dated for July 29, 2022 and then it was crossed out and changed to Aug. 8, 2022.

Travilla also refused to answer Sablan’s questions about that general service agreement document.

Camacho asked Travilla if he subcontracted Marianas Variety, Saipan Tribune, Creators Design, and Green Light Production Media Productions for any BOOST marketing-related services.

Travilla refused to answer all questions raised by Camacho.

He also refused to answer questions raised by Flores, including who came up with the idea for the BOOST Expo and Gala at the Saipan World Resort on Oct. 25, 2022.

Flores presented a document showing that Nonstop had invoiced John Arroyo of Bank of Saipan in the amount of $24,500 for client services, strategic marketing, integrated communications, and project management in support of the BOOST workforce development.

Flores said that on Oct. 25, 2022, regarding the BOOST Gala, Travilla was charged an invoice of $15,912 by World Resort.

Flores asked Travilla if he can explain what he did for $15,912, and the many hotel rooms he charged that day.

She said from Oct. 23 to 28, 2022, Travilla was present at World Resort because he signed the invoice and planned and coordinated the event.

Flores also asked Travilla who were the event designers and decorators for the event and explain why they were paid $20,000 for a one-day event and who were the event stage and sound and lighting managers and explain why they were paid $5,000 for the service and how many hotel rooms at the World Resort did Nontstop book.

Flores believes there were a total of 16 rooms booked at World Resort. She asked why on Oct. 23, 2022, there were six rooms booked; on Oct. 24, 2022 there were seven rooms; on Oct. 25, 2022 there were 12 rooms; on Oct. 26, 2022 there were still 10 rooms; on Oct. 27 there were six rooms; and on Oct. 28, there were two rooms booked three days after the event.