Alexandra Castro Macabalo, a 29-year-old woman accused of enticing a 15-year-old girl to engage in sex for cash with a CNMI government official in 2013, pleaded guilty to perjury yesterday in federal court.<\/p>\n
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted Macabalo\u2019s guilty plea and the plea agreement.<\/p>\n
Manglona set the sentencing for June 24, 2016 at 9am.<\/p>\n
Perjury carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.<\/p>\n
Under the plea deal, the sentencing guideline range is 15 to 21 months imprisonment.<\/p>\n
The court, however, retains its authority to impose any sentence up to the maximum penalties.<\/p>\n
Manglona unsealed the plea agreement and vacated the jury trial set for tomorrow, Wednesday, in the enticement case.<\/p>\n
The information, which was filed in court yesterday, charged Macabalo with one count of perjury for allegedly lying before a grand jury.<\/p>\n
The defendant signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government. She waived her right to prosecution by indictment and consent to prosecution by information.<\/p>\n
Under the plea agreement, the U.S. government agrees to move to dismiss the pending indictment (enticement) upon sentencing.<\/p>\n
According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Macabalo intentionally made false testimony before a grand jury on May 20, 2014.<\/p>\n
Macabalo was asked during the grand jury if Raymond B. Roberto asked her to contact a minor girl and see if the girl was willing to have sex with that person for money.<\/p>\n
Macabalo answered it\u2019s not for money and that Roberto mentioned to \u201chook up with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Macabalo also answered she does not recall the question if Roberto wanted her to convince the girl to have sex with him.<\/p>\n
The defendant agreed that she did contact the girl and that she did that because it was a set up.<\/p>\n
Asked what she meant by \u201cset up,\u201d Macabalo replied it\u2019s not really a set up, but \u201cit was a prank.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the plea agreement, Macabalo\u2019s testimony had a \u201cnatural tendency to influence, or was capable of influencing, the grand jury\u2019s investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assistant U.S. attorney Garth R. Backe is handling the case. Attorney Benjamin Petersburg is counsel for the defendant.<\/p>\n
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Macabalo in April 2015 after a complaint was filed in court, charging her with enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution and other sexual activity. The indictment was later subsequently filed.<\/p>\n
Last December, Manglona granted the U.S. Probation\u2019s request to revoke the pretrial release of Macabalo for smoking methamphetamine or \u201cice\u201d and violating other pre-trial conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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