Immigration officer gets three years in prison

In a strong message condemning corruption in government, a Superior Court judge yesterday sentenced an immigration officer to three years and six months in prison over charges that he solicited sexual favor from an alien worker in exchange for facilitating her immigration and labor permits.

What was troubling for associate judge Kenneth Govendo was that Santiago Cepeda got rehired as an immigration officer despite his conviction on similar charges sometime in 1995.

“It’s time to [stop] excuses…that [corruption] is just part of the culture here in the CNMI,” Govendo said. “You cannot use these jobs of public trust to earn extra money on the side.”

Govendo declared that Cepeda should serve his prison sentence without the possibility of parole, instructing the defendant to report to the Division of Corrections on Monday. He directed the Immigration Division and the Office of Personnel Management not to rehire Cepeda in any CNMI government position again.

The judge also ordered that Cepeda be placed on 18 months of probation after serving the prison term and to render 80 hours of community service, besides slapping the officer with a monetary fine.

Based on information obtained from the court, Cepeda earlier pleaded guilty to extortion and possession or removal of government property.

The officer admitted that he solicited “one or more things of value, including companionship and/or sexual favors.” He solicited sexual favor from a nonresident worker, a bar employee, sometime on December 2003 to January 2004, promising to help the woman obtain an official CNMI immigration and labor permit.

“You cannot act like gods to little people [over whom] you have control,” Govendo said. “This time, you are going to learn your lesson.”

Govendo said Cepeda should not have been rehired as an immigration officer in the first place because his police clearance would reflect his prior conviction. Sometime in 1995, the court had convicted Cepeda on charges of misconduct in public office for soliciting money in exchange for facilitating an alien worker’s entry permit.

The judge also noted the letter from Immigration director Antonio Sablan, which claimed that Cepeda was an employee of good standing, except when he committed the crimes in relation to the convictions.

Before the sentencing, special investigator David Hocking of the Attorney General’s Office testified in court that the woman refused to testify for the sentencing hearing because she was afraid of possible retaliation through her immigration status in the CNMI.

Cepeda’s wife, Eileen, also testified that her husband has been a good family man, pleading with the court to impose a low sentence on the defendant.

Govendo said that Eileen has no responsibility over her husband’s crimes, describing the immigration officer as a “crook” at work.

“Don’t be afraid and report those individuals. Go to the AGO and you will get support,” the judge said.