A bill seeking to prevent casino financial fraud in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands has been introduced into the Senate.
The Marianas Variety reported that Senate President Arnold Palacios recently filed Senate Bill 20-98 to protect Saipan’s exclusive casino, Imperial Pacific Hotel & Resort, from fraudulent misuse of financial instruments.
SB 20-98, which is also known as the Prevention of Fraudulent Misuse of Financial Instruments in Casino Gaming and Other Transactions Act, will specifically address the issues on counterfeit money, fake credit cards and other financial transactions.
With America’s long history of dealing with financial fraud, Palacios believes it is only prudent for Saipan to prepare against organized crime groups that may conduct fraudulent activities in its casinos.
He estimated that financial crimes in casinos may grow ten-fold in the near future after all senatorial districts approved regulated casino gaming.
Xiufang Qi gets 8-month jail term for harboring illegal Saipan casino workers
In other Saipan casino news, the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has sentenced a Chinese woman who supervised illegal Chinese workers on the construction site of Best Sunshine Casino to an eight-month time serve.
The Marianas Variety reported that Chief Judge Ramona Manglona also ordered Xiufang Qi to pay a $4,000 fine and undergo one year of supervised release after she pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting the harboring of 100 illegal casino construction workers from February 7, 2017 to March 22, 2017.
Qi is likely to be deported back to China after she finishes her jail term, according to the report. If deported, Qi will no longer be able to enter the U.S. without approval from the U.S. Attorney General.
“If deportation does not occur and she is released pending further immigration proceedings, Qi must immediately report to the U.S. Probation Office to begin her term of supervised release,” Judge Manglona said, according to the report.
Last year, the construction operations of Imperial Pacific International (IPI) were put under the spotlight after one of its contractors employed illegal Chinese workers. The casino operator quickly refuted reports that it endorsed illegal labor.
