The administrator for the Office of Civil Defense Charles Esteves and four certifying officers are indicted by a Superior Court of Guam grand jury. 

Esteves, Michael Taijeron, Joel Valenzuela, Patrick Leon Guerrero and Marie Quenga are each charged with certifying officer malfeasance and official misconduct, along with special allegation crime against the community. 

Quenga, who is also the administrative officer, is charged with tampering with public records. 

Court documents state from dates as far back as February 2016 to the latest being August 2023, the defendants knowingly took unlawful control over government owned property. 

Attorney General Doug Moylan presented the charges to a grand jury Tuesday night. 

He spoke about it with our partners on the point.

“So the process has begun. What I want to do with this opportunity is to also ask certifying officers and people in this community especially including government employees that may be close with the governor and her administration to come forward to the AG's office and start talking to us now instead of being put before a grand jury. It's better they disclose what they know to help us root out this corruption that's going on,” said Moylan. 

The case, a result of an audit from the Office of Public Accountability.

An investigation revealed $8.4 million in federal reimbursements had not been received by the general fund and months later auditors found millions in unauthorized overtime.

Guam Homeland and Civil Defense Spokesperson Jenna Blas said the agency is "aware of the indictments. As this pertains to personnel matters, we are limited in what we can share at this time." Adding their office, "Remains committed to upholding the integrity of our mission and the public trust we serve."

The agency's Oversight Chair Senator Shawn Gumataotao stated in part, "This development is yet another example of the erosion of credibility of the Government of Guam with our federal partners. We must do better in all of our respective roles."

He wants the Governor to intervene.

In a statement, the Governor's Office said they are "reviewing the charges and will take appropriate action as necessary to ensure appropriate monitoring and supervision.” Adding, "operations will continue uninterrupted."

Guam Homeland confirming this afternoon that Valenzuela and Taijeron are no longer employed with the agency. 

Meantime, the five defendants are scheduled to answer to the charges before a magistrate judge on May 1.