Man Arrested Twice for Cruise Ship Fraud and Attempted Escape
A 37-year-old man was arrested not once, but twice in Juneau last month for fraud, theft, and attempted escape after being caught impersonating a U.S. citizen on a cruise ship. Enrico Ronquillo, a citizen of the Philippines who legally resides in the United States, was taken into custody by state troopers on May 14 after falsely impersonating a Californian citizen to board the Discovery Princess cruise ship in Seattle.
According to the affidavit, a Customs and Border Protection officer discovered Ronquillo’s alleged crimes while investigating potential credit card fraud on the ship. The investigation revealed that Ronquillo was using counterfeit documents that had been used illegally before, and his appearance didn’t match the photograph on the identification papers. During his four-day cruise, Ronquillo allegedly made large cash withdrawals using a stolen credit card at the ship’s casino, charging nearly $20,000 to the card.
Ronquillo admitted to the scheme during questioning and revealed that he had committed similar crimes on other cruise ships. He claimed to be working with an accomplice in Seattle and planned to split the cash. After being released on bail following his initial arrest, Ronquillo cut off his ankle monitor and attempted to flee Juneau. The Juneau Police Department apprehended him at the Juneau International Airport, where he had already passed through TSA security and was waiting to board a flight.
Ronquillo is currently being held at the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility. His next readiness hearing is scheduled for July 16. Customs and Border Protection spokespersons described the incident as fairly uncommon and not a trending problem in Alaska.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat identity theft and credit card fraud on cruise ships. It also demonstrates the challenges faced by authorities in dealing with individuals who attempt to evade justice while under supervision.
