Woman in jobs scam case pleads guilty
A woman indicted on charges of luring Chinese nationals to the CNMI to work in non-existing jobs pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday.
Heqian Ma pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud in foreign labor contracting as part of a plea deal.
She will be sentenced on Dec. 6.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona allowed Ma to be released until then on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
Under the plea deal, Ma will be sentenced to time served if she pays restitution before her sentencing date.
Ma’s lawyer, Michael N. Evangelista, told Saipan Tribune that they are thankful to the court for its diligence in reviewing all aspects of his client’s case.
“We are equally grateful for the court granting our motion for bail modification, paving the way for my client’s release pending sentencing,” he said.
Assistant U.S. attorney James Benedetto appeared for the U.S. government.
According to the indictment, Ma recruited Weifeng Guo and Yujan Li in China for non-existent jobs in the CNMI.
