The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office has filed in federal court an additional charge of witness tampering against former acting CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife director Raymond Borja Roberto.<\/p>\n
The second superseding indictment filed Tuesday charged Roberto with two counts of enticement of a minor and one count of witness tampering.<\/p>\n
The two counts of enticement of a minor are contained in the first superseding indictment.<\/p>\n
Roberto, through counsel Joaquin Torres, pleaded not guilty to all charges during yesterday\u2019s arraignment.<\/p>\n
The jury trial for the case was originally set for May 12, 2014, but Torres asked that it be moved to another date. The prosecution did not object.<\/p>\n
U.S. District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy later set the scheduling conference for May 12, 2014 at 10am.<\/p>\n
Roberto was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal after the hearing.<\/p>\n
On the new charge of witness tampering, assistant U.S. attorney Rami S. Badawy stated in the indictment that the offense happened on April 24, 2014, while Roberto was detained pending trial.<\/p>\n
Badawy said Roberto attempted to influence the testimony of an individual and tried to persuade the same individual to alter, destroy, and conceal evidence.<\/p>\n
With respect to enticement of a minor charges, Badawy said Roberto persuaded two minor girls to engage in prostitution or in sexual activity from March 1, 2013 to July 18, 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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