A WOMAN who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and items from the Navy Exchange has agreed to plea guilty in federal court; however, she will not agree to a written plea agreement by her prosecutors.
Jaedine K. Babauta is accused of stealing about $41,499.50 in electronics, accessories, gift cards, and other items from NEX sometime between Aug. 19 to Oct. 21 last year.
Babauta's defense counsel filed a notice of factual allocution in the District Court of Guam, stating that despite the government's plea agreement, Babauta “will now only be pleading guilty without any written plea agreement,” the file stated.
The plea agreement, which was filed April 17, implies that the maximum sentence of Babauta's offense would be incarceration for not more than 10 years, a $250,000 fine, a $100 assessment fee, as well as restitution that the court may order.
However, if Babauta is compliant, then the government agrees to recommend she receive minimum sentence which entails her paying restitution.
According to the plea agreement, the restitution amount would be not more than $41,499.50.
The plea agreement indicated that $31,533.50 was stolen merchandise that was returned to investigators sometime in Oct. 25 and 26, 2011, which comprised of electronics, electronic accessories and DVD movies.
The NEX had also recovered five Apple brand MacBook computers valued at approximately $7,045 on Oct. 21, 2011.
Additionally, $3,578 in electronics was sold by Babauta over the Internet; and $6,378 in NEX refunds were placed on fraudulent NEX gift cards, court documents indicated.
If she agrees and cooperates with the plea agreement, the government will recommend that Babauta receive the minimum sentence, make restitution payments, and receive credit for time served, if any.
Woman pleads guilty to stealing $41,000 at NEX
- Thursday, 26 Apr 2012 03:00am
- BY GERALDINE CASTILLO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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