Two defendants have been ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution and forfeiture and will serve federal prison terms for a school procurement fraud scheme that siphoned grant money from the CNMI Public School System.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona on May 6 finalized a $548,788 judgment against former PSS employee Giselle Butalid and her mother, Clarissa Adlawan, who prosecutors said used their company, One Legacy LLC, to submit fake invoices and forged procurement documents between 2021 and 2022.
Manglona sentenced Butalid to 18 months in prison, while Adlawan—found to have played a more significant role—received 48 months. Both were ordered to self‑surrender once the Federal Bureau of Prisons assigned their facilities.
Investigators said the pair laundered at least $262,788, spending PSS funds on luxury goods, travel, and rapid ATM withdrawals in the Philippines. Agents later seized more than 100 pieces of jewelry and designer items, most of which remain subject to forfeiture.
A third‑party claim by Enhance Pacific Corp., doing business as Perfectly Set, remains pending over jewelry allegedly consigned to Adlawan for resale.
