Filipino producer in Guam faces trafficking, visa fraud charges
Jemuel Luciano. DEPT OF CORRECTIONS
SAN FRANCISCO – A Filipino entertainment company producer in Guam is facing 29 felony counts of visa fraud, conspiracy to commit visa fraud, alien trafficking and harboring undocumented aliens and using female members of Filipino music bands to sell alcohol at Guam clubs and bars, a violation of a federal immigration program regulating such bands.
Jemuel Luciano, 46, was arrested Saturday, June 18, in Tamuning and appeared Monday at the U.S. District Court of Guam. Luciano was the executive producer of Royal Entertainment Productions, which stages artists and talent for television and concert entertainment in Guam.
Under a federal visa program, foreign performers, artists, bands or national athletes can temporarily work and perform on U.S. soil. From April 2011 through about 2014, Luciano allegedly recruited two bands from the Philippines to work in Guam venues where he told them to perform unauthorized work, violating the visa program, according to the federal indictment.
In 2011, the Gems Band came to Guam under a visa and worked at Stargazer Bar, according to a report by the Pacific Daily News. Luciano allegedly told female band members to sell drinks at the bar, knowing it violated the band’s visa status, reportedly profiting about $10 from every $30 in drinks sold. The Gems Band did the same at Josie’s Tavern and Club Underpass for over a year. Another group, Faith Cuneta Band, with 11 performers who entered Guam under the visa program to perform at Chic.Boy in October 2013 was allegedly told that selling drinks was part of the job.
Luciano allegedly used the money from the drink sales to pay the band members’ monthly salaries and band-related expenses such as apartment rental fees. He could forfeit any property obtained directly or indirectly from the drink sales in addition to at least at least $9,258, if found guilty of the charges,
According to the Pacific Daily News, Luciano in January 2015 was to star in Filipino production of “San Pedro Calungsod: The Musical,” about a Filipino martyr killed in Guam while doing missionary work with Father Diego Luis de San Vitores.
