US fugitive arrested in Aurora province

BALER, Aurora , Philippines  – Joint operatives of the Bureau of Immigration, Legal of US embassy Manila, Aurora and Pangasinan Philippine National Police arrested a US fugitive in Sitio Puntian, Barangay Sabali here by virtue of BI’s order of deportation and a Federal warrant of arrest issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami Florida for violation of Title 18, US C Section 371, 1343 and 2326, conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Robert Nicol alias Bob was arrested at 5 p.m. on March 30. Joint law enforcement officers who worked for his surveillance and arrest were the following: Assistant Legal Attache John Sapinoso of the US embassy, Manila; Police Senior Superintendent Romulo Esteban, provincial director of Aurora Province Police Regional Office 3; Police Superintendent Harris Fama of the Pangasinan Police Regional Office 1; and Immigration Agent Manny Adaw of the BI.

Information provided by Fama to The STAR yesterday showed that in May 2005, Nicol, 59, began doing business under Gold Star Vending, Inc. located in Midvale, Utah, USA. Gold Star vending offered a business opportunity that included table top units called “Top Shot” table shooter. The table top unit has a minimum purchase price of approximately $8,000. The table top shooters were placed in restaurants and offered restaurant patrons the opportunity to win their free lunch, dinner or other prizes.

Nicol and his co-conspirators stated a business opportunity purchaser would earn substantial profits. Nicol advertised the Top Shoot opportunity on various franchise-offering websites and by classified advertisement.

The classified ads stated the following words: “You can make $250 per hour vending. Exciting new concept, no competition. Best location available. Call for free info package.”

The firm also had its own website, which described its offering and provided a “prospectus.” The prospectus contained many false claims about profits purchasers would make. Additionally, the prospectus included a flyer purporting to contain testimonials exerted from supposed customer letters. Gold Star Vending caused over $1,000 in losses to over 100 consumers across the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that Nicol fled the United States for the Philippines.

The FBI authorities in the US had information that Nicol may be hiding in Nueva Ecija, Baguio City, Pangasinan and in Aurora province.

Follow-up operations made by FBI and the PNP with the aid of informers led to the specific location of Nicol in Sitio Puntian, Barangay Sabali, Ba­ler, Aurora.      – Eva Visperas