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I agree with comments from the other taxpayers. What makes him so special that he doesn't have to pay taxes and gets one year for tax evasion. These Senators that write to vouch for him that he's a good man. A good man follows all the laws. A good man has integrity and does the right thing. I'm sure all of us want to evade paying taxes. I'm surely not voting for Senators who think he's a good man and should just get a slap on the wrist. The problem on Guam is that there's too much politics it stinks.
Judge Manibusan is a very poor judge and has been for years. He is out of his depth. Someone intentionally fails to pay taxes for 19 years and gets a sentence of one year, instead of three years as recommended by the prosecutor. This is a joke. The prominent members of Guam who wrote letters in support of this con man should be ashamed of themselves. He feels "ashamed" and says he is a disgrace to his parents? Did that thought suddenly occur to him after 19 years of fraudulently failing to file a return and pay his taxes? And he wants to select which federal prison he will be serving his sentence?
GovGuam is a JOKE!!! So are our senators. Perhaps senator Barnes and Espaldon have evaded taxes as well. I wouldn't put it past them. Maybe the entire island should evade their taxes just to prove a point.
There hasn't been a time since the Japanese occupied these Islands has atrocities of this magnitude occurred. We need the Fed's to step in on this and do what is right. If it had been anybody else we would not see daylight again and our families would be on welfare because they took everything to pay the debt. The people of Guam need to stand up and physically PROTEST this by going to the Courthouse and Legislature demanding RESIGNATIONS for Muna- Barnes, Espaldon and the JUDGE. They are NOT worthy of holding these positions, they are NOT representing the LAW or the WILL of the people.
STOP PAYING YOUR TAXES, the JUDGE just set the president that even if you get caught there is no repercussions. 19 years of paying no taxes = one year jail and a small percentage fine for what you steal. Any accountant would tell you that in the end you'll be way ahead financially. And based on what Santos got you would only get probation and keep your job! It's really a "no brainer".
There hasn't been a time since the Japanese occupied these Islands has atrocities of this magnitude occurred. We need the Fed's to step in on this and do what is right. If it had been anybody else we would not see daylight again and our families would be on welfare because they took everything to pay the debt. The people of Guam need to stand up and physically PROTEST this by going to the Courthouse and Legislature demanding RESIGNATIONS for Muna- Barnes, Espaldon and the JUDGE. They are NOT worthy of holding these positions, they are NOT representing the LAW or the WILL of the people.
STOP PAYING YOUR TAXES, the JUDGE just set the president that even if you get caught there is no repercussions. 19 years of paying no taxes = one year jail and a small percentage fine for what you steal. Any accountant would tell you that in the end you'll be way ahead financially. And based on what Santos got you would only get probation and keep your job! It's really a "no brainer".
What are we waiting for, demand justice. We might be next and we would not get the leniency that Santos got if we admit our guilt. I bet he'll be out in 4-6 months for good behavior and he will be back at it again. Freeze his assets pay back all taxes due, max time in jail. Maybe this news can go viral if it's reported on the internet...Jay will get more exposure and the judge gets a promotion to the U.S. Supreme Court...
The judge gave him one year because he admitted guilt. According to investigations, he didn't pay taxes for 19 years, he never intended to pay taxes until he got caught. Oops...he admitted he's guilty so he gets one year. Why don't Barnes and Espaldon get a year also and Arriola too,he looks like a relative of Santos. This is a shame to our island, another crook got it easy. Maybe it's a precedent, other criminals can ask for leniency if they admit their guilt and choose where they can serve out their sentence, maybe at home. He should pay back all the taxes due plus maybe 10 years in jail, that's justice. Our judicial system and senators needs overhaul. People of Guam, it's time for change...justice for all.
I pay my yearly taxes and the one year I was fortunate to get a tax refund, it was withheld by the Government for an unpaid GMH bill that I had already cleared! Measly $600.00! Why is Mr. Santos any different from the rest of us?! Why did they only discover recently that Mr. Santos was not paying his taxes... 19 years later! Did everyone have kadu and fall asleep on this issue? GovGuam was so fast to withhold MY refund!
Who knows, I may just read too much and bury myself in books but the law is the law. Guessing this hot shot lawyer did the best he could to represent this guy and knew his shit. I understand that is what lawyers get paid to do, DEFEND THEIR CLIENTS and uphold the law as it is written in black and white. Hell, if I ever get into trouble I know who to hire to defend me! Who was the attorney representing the Government? This Government sucks, the justice system sucks, this weather sucks. Biba Guam.
Mr. Santos probably would have continued evading paying his taxes if he wasn't caught. Being a business man, he is not ignorant to the fact that there are tax implications that he has to deal with. Not paying his taxes is a deliberate act on his part. He gave no justifiable reason why he did this, I believe the reasons are greed and arrogance.
As for the political leaders that supported him, it's easy to see through your alterior motives. Mr. Santos seems to have a lot of influence on people due to the number of supporters who spoke on his behalf, what better way to garnish votes from these people by standing up for Mr. Santos.
Mr. Santos, lieniency was granted to you considering your contributions to the community, whatever that might be, but I believe that it was all superficial. What you have done was deceive your family, friends, and the people of Guam. I would understand this coming from an adolescent, but from a grown man you should be ashamed of yourself.
He admitted to what he did not do However, were the the PND and the reporters objective in their articles? Were all the information based on solid and verifiable evidence or some were basically conjecture/allegation? Why so many articles dedicated to just one person?.
Is he the only individual on the island who has not filed his/her income income or is he the only individual targeted to be the ultimate scapegoat.
Does the PDN make their it a practice to act as "judge and jury" for all lawbreakers? Lastly, if the PDN does not agree with the sentences
given.by judges, does it conduct polls to have the public weigh in on the decisions for ALL lawbreakers?
Were his assets seized or frozen. Did he transfer assets to an unknown acct. The Prosecutors should check into that or RevnTax for that matter. Also come Election time, you know the names of whom to not Vote, Hmmm, Muna-Barnes, Espaldon and whoever is involved in this joke of a Judicial system. We need HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY LAWYERS AND JUDGES TO BE IMPARTIAL and not because your related or know the person that your not going to do your job.
WOW!! And this guy still has a contract with the airport and will still be making millions while he serves out his joke of a sentence. I will cringe every time I have to fork out my $1000.00 tax payment in January, I am in no way rich but I still have to pay taxes every year. I don't care how "good" a person is, a crime committed is a crime committed. Us regular working joe and janes will still be paying our taxes.
Jail time he is not above the law. Forget the letters from others who know him -big wigs.
The legislature needs to have an oversight on the airport and Revenue and tax. This is just too dirty. The airport management and the prior Rev and Tax directors owe us an explanation why he is employed and why he was never prosecuted for his tax deception earlier. The airport's management, Ada, Rev and Tax and the governor owe us an explanation.
Jay Arriola for the win! Guam justice system is a joke!
The man need to abide by our laws just like everyone. The airport should cancel his recent contract and blacklist him on future airport consulting otherwise this is a flagrant corruption on the airport management.
Mr. Jay Arriola, are you proud of yourself now or is it just another day at the office, justice doesn't matter to you as long as you make money. Is it all about the almighty dollar...are you laughing all the way to the bank too? It must be nice defending a criminal and making a lot of money.
I am arrow and I will judge: Francisco R. Santos, you have failed this Island....whoosh...justice.
There should not be any exception, the law is the law, no one is above the law. Our governed should look into this or the U.S. Attorney should get involved. I also had to make arrangements with IRS to catch up with my taxes but I paid it all or else. Why him, why all the support, why give him a break he's being doing it for 19 years and no remorse until he got caught. He's making more money than he needs, he can afford to pay his taxes...a lot of can't but they still have to pay. If I can pay my taxes so can he and he makes a lot more money than most people. Justice must be done, no favoritism, senators stay out of this, serve the people not criminals.
This guy is the worst thief cause the money he stole or did not pay in taxes could of or should of paid a lot of things for the people of guam I got my taxes garnished because I owed the hospital for a lousy $100.00 dollars due to the fact that it was a error due to my health insurance but the hospital collector would not hear it or entertain me he said that that's the law and that that it was my fault for not taking care of it. the worst crime is a crime against the people and a lot of rich people are doing this and getting away with it shame on you , you know who you are.
correction : not tax refunds but income tax payments :) , got too heated there for a minute .
1 year in jail ? That's all for not paying tax refunds for about 10 years ? Wow ! How corrupt is this island ? He agreed to plead guilty to three years , should've recieved at minimum 3 years jail sentence , 3 years community service , 5 years supervised release.
What a crock of doodoo ! Thanx Gov Guam.
Rally for justice, rally against lawyers,rally against criminals...put them away, pay for their crimes...vigilantes needed.
I made payment arrangements for my prior year taxes and now that we filed 2014 they won't accept the arrangements. They want to seize my senior citizen husbands social security of $800 monthly or pay $420 a month. When asked about our living expense like food their response was "that's the law". We asked about better arrangements they said "you owe the tax, everything else doesn't matter to us. Here's my card. You got two weeks or we will turn it over to have your assets seized. And call me and make an appointment within the two weeks for payment". We have no assets except a vehicle. We rent a home. We have been calling and no one answers. I've left messages with the director and still no answer. They kept $17k of our tax refund because of a statue of limitation. That's our government. My poor sick husband. We will live with $380 a month for everything else. We can't even qualify for food stamps. As god is my witness he will answer my prayers.
No justice for the law abiding taxpayers of Guam. If it steals like a thief it must be a thief. Only on Guam! Liars, thieves, criminals with connections get away again with breaking the law. Shame, shame, shame. No honor, despicable. How can people be so blind?! If my own family members were to commit such a shameful crime, I would turn them in myself!
Maybe senator Barnes will ask for a raise for this. There should be a law against public officials supporting a criminals, especially senators...they should be removed from office and never allowed to run again. Friend or not, support the law, don't make a law and go against it, that's corruption at its best. Maybe tourist will flock to our island to see our corrupted officials.
Make him pay everything he owes, and cut his contract up. What is wrong with those people at the airport. Are they getting a cut or something? If that was somebody else, they will get the extent of the law, put his lawyer in jail. Just another day at the office, more money to him. I wish I was a lawyer that will prosecute other lawyers. Put that tax evader in jail for the maximum time, 19 years is pre-meditated, he knows what he' s doing, no leniency...do your Job judge.
I guess we can do anything illegal, just as long as we have friends who are "up there". Funny how senators wanna throw the book at everyone, with the exception of their friends or family. Just proves the pathetic "pare system" exists. ITS SO IRRITATING.
This just shows how corrupted our system is, when even our senators are backing him up. It seems that we need to keep track of senator Barnes herself, I think her political ambitions has gone too far. This tax evader should not get off this easy. He knowingly knew what he was doing and hoping he won't get caught for. For 19years, he has been doing this and now that he' s caught he asking for leniency. Shame on the lawyer and the judge for letting him get away with his crimes. People of Guam, don' t let this happen, justice must be served. He is laughing all the way to the bank. For all his supporters, it doesn't matter if it' s your father or brother, he did a serious crime he must pay for it...justice for all. Why is he still going to be paid when he is in jail? What kind of system is this? This is a message to all criminals, after your crime you can keep all the spoils. Shame, shame, shame it is an OOG. Come on Guam, wake up, this cannot continue
If this guy is not sentence its an embarrassment for Gov Guam and state law it will be a slap on on the face to the community.
Way to go Jay Arriola, you just helped another get away with their crime. Does this make you high and mighty now!!! Tsk Tsk shame on you......
What a joke, he should have gotten the maximum sentence, and be remove as a consultant from the Airport. What's happen to our Leadership in Guam?
a relative of mine got caught with the same thing and the IRS froze all their assests and income until they paid all that they owed back to include interest. This Santos who is without shame needs to be held accountable to the millions he owes the government. This is taxes that could go to helping the hospital, police and or fire department.
The guy who hit the Japanese tourist is getting more flak because he is endangering the money that will eventually go to people like this guy. Everyday people get their tax refunds TAKEN from them sometimes without notice... sends a clear message that people in the government are above and beyond the law
For 19 years he deliberately failed to pay his taxes and he actually thought he would get away with it because of all the politicians that he is in bed with. Of course he confessed because he got caught and the thought that some politicians backed him up and wanted him to get off easy is sickening and shows how self serving they are. Santos should have got more than 1 year and I am willing to bet that in a short while he will be released to home confinement. In the mean while he will continue to make millions with his business. I really wish that the system would go back and make this guy back pay all that he owes. This guy is dirty, dirty and no morals.
There are many law abiding citizens who are paying their fair share to the government, such as pay taxes and voting during elections. But, to not pay your tax is just incomprehensible. No one is above the law. The Judge did the right thing.
The way I see it, it does not matter who is in office, all our leaders are corrupted, including our judicial system. This guy got away with not paying taxes for over ten years worth hundreds of thousands or several million dollars. Reminds me of another tax evader "Dennis Rodriguez Sr." Who paid 10 cents on the dollar, why didn't he go to jail? I want to pay the same amount of my $1000. 2000. Or 3000. I owe which would amount to only $100. 200. Or 300. At 10 cents on the dollar. Why is the average Joe forced to pay in full while criminals (politically connected people) get off with a slap on the hand? WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GUAM!!!! DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OUR SO CALLED LEADERS (CORRUPTED)
Just let him pay what he owes back.
The judge should have given him the full 3 years. He knew that he has to pay taxes. What a joke!! Now he is laughing. He made all that money and he gets to keep it.
What a joke, our Leaders sending a message that it is alright too commit a crime and not get the full extent of the law. Pressuring the Judicial section and swaying the outcome (way to go, our Leaders at their very best). What next will he put his bid in for Senator or Governor.
The ct administration has already got the word out to load this survey like they did the last one. Hopefully my comment helps deter another skewed pdn poll in favor of this admin and their friends.