MikeLigalig.com

A 42-year-old Filipino who formerly worked as a driver with the Micronesian embassy in Washington D.C. has been sentenced by the United States District Court in New Jersey to a 26-month term for human smuggling.

Convicted was Enrico Calderon of Laguna who, together with a Micronesian embassy official, made 50 fake passports that were sold to Filipinos wanting to come to the United States for fees up to $25,000.

Earlier, Calderon’s cousin and co-conspirator, Roehl Rivera, who acted as escort for the smuggled Filipinos from Hong Kong to Newark airport in New Jersey was sentenced to time served in jail. But the judge ordered his immediate deportation. Calderon, however, still has to serve up to eight months to complete his 26-month sentence.

He is also facing criminal charges filed May 14 by the government of the Federated States of Micronesia against him and Micronesian diplomat Jesse Marehalau.

source: manilamaildc.net