SAIPAN — A Philippine national living in the CNMI illegally was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for filing approximately 242 fraudulent employment authorization applications, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced.
Venerando Aquino Martin, 56, was sentenced May 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands for visa fraud against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1546(a), U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson announced. The court also ordered Martin to serve one year of supervised release and pay a $200 mandatory assessment fee.
Between September 23, 2023, and April 9, 2025, Martin submitted approximately 242 fraudulent Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization applications, falsely claiming that the applicants qualified for employment. As a result of the scheme, 66 Employment Authorization Documents were unlawfully issued and subsequently used by undocumented aliens to obtain employment within the CNMI.
“Martin engaged in fraudulent conduct at every step of his scheme,” Anderson said. “All 66 EAD recipients have had their work authorizations revoked. The aliens involved have either been placed in or are pending initiation of removal proceedings. We will aggressively enforce immigration violations to ensure that foreign nationals meet the qualifications of our work visa programs.”
CJ Ammons, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations, said visa fraud weakens the immigration system and puts communities at risk.
“We’re keeping a close eye on everyone and everything crossing our borders,” Ammons said. “If you violate our customs or immigration laws, you will face consequences. Don’t risk it.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations Saipan and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Garth R. Backe for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.