Feds say PH-bound Quiboloy exec smuggled cash

HONOLULU — A woman headed for the Philippines aboard a private jet that was also carrying Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy lied about the amount of cash she had when inspectors found $335,000 in her carry-on bag, prosecutors said.

A United States District Court complaint accused Felina S. Salinas of bulk cash smuggling, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and forfeiture of the cash and property.

Salinas was released on $25,000 bond after a court appearance on Wednesday. She said her attorney is flying to Hawaii.

US Department of Homeland Security officials said she handed officers inspecting the jet a currency report form that declared she was carrying $40,000 and P1,000. When the officers opened Salinas’ carry-on bag, they found $335,000 and 9,000 in Australian dollars contained in socks, prosecutors said.

Federal law requires travelers to declare currency over $10,000.

Hawaii News Now reported that Salinas is the business manager of Kingdom of Jesus Christ’s Waipahu church location, and that the mega-church’s leader, Quiboloy, was also on the plane and was detained. They reported Quiboloy has since taken a commercial flight to the Philippines.    

Later in Manila, a spokesperson denied Quiboloy was detained, saying he did not violate any US laws. With INQUIRER.net         /kga

READ: Quiboloy briefly held in Hawaii; $350K, gun parts found in private plane

READ: Quiboloy was not detained, did not violate law in US – spokesman