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GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
Filipino green card holder who helped US bust drug syndicate faces deportation
NEW YORK – The family and friends of a Filipino arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are seeking help as he is currently detained at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Border Patrol agents at Charlotte International Airport in North Carolina arrested 44-year-old Sonny Lasquite, a green card holder from Pampanga, on July 28, 2025. According to Dory Hirano, a family friend of Lasquite, they had just returned from a vacation in the Bahamas when he was stopped by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the airport. Joji Hirano, Lasquite's best friend and also a green card holder, told GMA Integrated News that both of them were detained on secondary inspection. Hirano was released after almost an hour, but Lasquite was put on hold after a red flag popped up in the CBP system. Court records show that Lasquite was convicted on August 14, 2012 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Schedule IV controlled substances, and for distributing alprazolam and zolpidem. Documents obtained by GMA Integrated News reveal that Lasquite played a key role in dismantling the international operations of his associates. His cooperation with the US Attorney's Office and federal agents led to the conviction of seven individuals, including the group's leader. Because of this, the US Department of Justice recommended a sentence of zero to six months' imprisonment for his guilty plea. In a letter dated July 2014, former US Attorney Preet Bharara, in his sentencing memorandum submitted to Honorable Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of the Southern District of New York, stated that Lasquite was instrumental in stopping and prosecuting those involved in drug distribution. 'Lasquite provided substantial assistance to law enforcement by supplying information about other people, including those with whom he had conspired to violate federal law,' the document stated. As a result, the court sentenced Lasquite to time served, meaning he was not imprisoned further, and ordered him to pay only $200 in criminal monetary penalties. Since his 2012 conviction, Lasquite has not been involved in any wrongdoing. He has been working as a banquet server in a casino in Las Vegas, supporting his mother. He has lived in the United States for 23 years. Immigration lawyer and Bergenfield, New Jersey Mayor Arvin Amatorio told GMA Integrated News that Lasquite's cooperation was significant but does not guarantee that his deportation will be stopped. "His cooperation with US authorities is significant, but it doesn't automatically stop deportation unless law enforcement steps in to sponsor a special visa or DHS uses prosecutorial discretion," Amatorio said. According to Amatorio, due to the seriousness of his conviction, Lasquite faces the risk of being deported to the Philippines. "Sonny is in danger of deportation because, under US immigration law, any lawful permanent resident convicted of distributing controlled substances—even with a short sentence—can be removed from the country. His conviction counts as both a controlled substance offense and an aggravated felony, and it also involves moral turpitude since it's a serious offense showing intent to break the law." He added that Lasquite's options to stop deportation are very limited. "These grounds block most forms of relief, like asylum or cancellation of removal. There are still limited options. He could apply for withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture if he can prove serious danger in the Philippines. Another path is post-conviction relief, where the criminal conviction is overturned for legal reasons,' Amatorio said. Lasquite's family has already spoken to representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC which is currently monitoring his case. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC asks Haryana to re-examine groundwater extraction fee policy for hospitals, banquet halls
1 2 Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Haryana govt and the Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) to re-evaluate its policy on groundwater extraction fees with regard to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and banquet halls. The HC wants state authorities to re-examine fee categorisation to ensure parity with industrial users. The court also restrained state authorities from taking any coercive action against the petitioners (health care service provider institutions and banquet halls) until the review process is completed. Justice Kuldeep Tiwari has passed these orders while disposing of a batch of 27 petitions filed by M/s White Oak Motel and Restaurants and others challenging the state notification dated Sep 10, 2021, which excluded their establishments from being treated as "industries" under Schedule I for the purpose of groundwater-use classification. Petitioners submitted that they are owners of banquet halls/marriage gardens/clinics/nursing homes etc., wherethrough, they are imparting services to the public at large. Moreover, the construction of the respective institutions/establishments is already complete, and now the petitioners only require water extraction for running their respective institutions/establishments. The main dispute was about differential treatment of establishments categorised under "industry" versus "infrastructure" with regard to groundwater extraction fee policy outlined in Schedule IV. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Everybody Is Switching To This Enterprise Accounting Software [Take a Look] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo Industrial users drawing less than 10 cubic metres per day are exempt from paying any fee. However, such an exemption does not apply to infrastructure users, a classification that includes hospitals, clinics, and marriage banquets. According to petitioners, this policy was discriminatory and irrational since many of their establishments provide essential public services, and their operations were being unfairly burdened when compared to industrial units. During the hearing of the matter, the counsel representing HWRA submitted that the issue could be reconsidered, noting that the existing policy was based on central govt models and may be due for a review. After hearing all parties, the court directed the state and HWRA to re-examine Schedule IV within two months and assess whether the fee categorisation applicable to industries can be extended to infrastructure users. In its recently released order, the judge, however, refrained from examining the legality of the 2021 notification on the grounds of arbitrariness or bias.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
3 people arrested after fentanyl, cocaine found at Athens home
Three people were arrested after police served a search warrant at an Athens home and found fentanyl and cocaine. On Feb. 26, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force served the warrant in the 100 block of Bedford Drive in Athens. Officials said Deborah Lumpkin, 66, allowed the suspect, Quincy Brooks, 47, to distribute fentanyl from the home. Lumpkin, Brooks, and Christian 'Christi' Lumpkin, 35, were detained. Police found fentanyl, cocaine, and Schedule IV pharmaceuticals were found at the home. Brooks was charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of Schedule IV with intent to distribute. Both Deborah and Christian Lumpkin were arrested for outstanding warrants. Anyone with information or tips regarding illegal drug distribution, please contact the Drug Tip Line at 706-613-3297. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta tire shop owner shot, killed by employee before owner's son shoots him, friend says Another Delta flight forced to turn back to Atlanta shortly after takeoff over engine issue 3-year-old killed in DeKalb County wreck [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
2 men face multiple drug, gun charges, Baton Rouge police say
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Two men are facing drug and gun charges after an investigation into a suspicious incident by the Baton Rouge Police Department. Tyvarius Haynes, 24, was charged with possession of marijuana, resisting an officer, possession of a machine gun, possession of Schedule IV, possession with intent to distribute Schedule II, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance and criminal mischief. Taber Davis, 25, was charged with one count of obstruction of justice (felony), one count of theft of a firearm (Felony), one count of possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies (Felony), one count of resisting an officer, one count of illegal possession of stolen firearms (Felony) and two counts of possession of machine gun. Officers were called to the 9200 block of Florida Boulevard on Jan. 25 where multiple people with guns behind a building were found. BRPD said, 'Several suspects were arrested with firearms and body armor, but two males fled.' A Special investigations detective identified those two men as Haynes and Davis. The United States Marshals Service arrested Haynes and he was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Tabor was already in the custody of the St. James Parish Sheriff's Office after they arrested him for possessing an additional firearm while being a convicted felon, BRPD said. He was subsequently arrested on the charges listed above. Coroner: Baby dies from accidental drowning in Baton Rouge U.S., Russia begin peace talks without Ukraine Dozens of police recruits nationwide have died while training in last decade: probe Southwest Airlines cutting hundreds of jobs K9 Hurricane, the most decorated dog in US history, has died Senate to vote on budget resolution this week in race to enact Trump agenda Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
