A decade after grand promises of a “Titanic-themed” resort and casino on Tinian, the ambitious project has collapsed into a legal battle. Twenty-three Chinese nationals are now seeking $13.4 million in damages, according to Marianas Variety, claiming they were misled into funding a venture that never advanced beyond the planning stage.
Filed in the New York State Supreme Court in July 2025, the 81-page lawsuit accuses the developers of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, conversion, unjust enrichment, and legal malpractice. Representing the plaintiffs is attorney Justin M. Sher of Sher Tremonte LLP.
A Project That Never Left the Ground
Initially touted as a game-changer for the Northern Mariana Islands’ tourism industry, the Tinian Ocean View Resort and Casino was projected to cost $130 million and transform the island’s economy. The 2014 business plan described an expansive development featuring a 385,000-square-foot casino, a 150-room six-star “Titanic Hotel” modeled after a cruise liner, another 150-room mid-range hotel, luxury retail outlets, convention facilities, spa amenities, and even a ferry link.
Investors were told that their contributions would not only finance this development but also qualify them for EB-5 visas, granting them permanent U.S. residency through job creation. Yet, ten years later, no casino or hotel has been built, and none of the investors have secured visas.
Investor Claims of Mismanagement and False Promises
According to the complaint, nearly $12.1 million was raised from the 23 plaintiffs, with the larger American Northern Marianas Economic Development Fund LLC reportedly loaning about $64 million in total to Bridge Investment Group LLC (BIG). However, the plaintiffs argue the loans were made without signed agreements, repayment commitments, or collateral. The gambling license itself was never pledged to secure financing, leaving the project without the foundation needed to attract bank loans or refinancing.
The lawsuit names several defendants: Xianjun Meng, managing director of the American Northern Marianas Regional Center (ANMRC) and CEO of BIG; his wife, Silvia Siu, also known as Xiao Bing; along with New York attorneys Jin An and Samuel Newbold. Meng and Siu, who also operate Canbo International Group Ltd., a Hong Kong-based immigration consultancy, are alleged to have spearheaded the recruitment of investors.
Plaintiffs say Canbo aggressively marketed the project, using social media, brochures, and personal meetings to promote investments of $500,000 per unit, plus additional administrative and legal fees. Promotional materials allegedly guaranteed rapid visa approvals and showcased misleading images on WeChat that suggested construction progress when none existed.
The Collapse of Investor Confidence
The plaintiffs claim the problems did not stop at deceptive advertising. They argue the job-creation model used to secure EB-5 approvals was inherently flawed, given Tinian’s small workforce and reliance on imported materials, which reduced the potential for meeting the visa program’s requirement of ten jobs per investor.
On August 21, 2023, Canbo abruptly shut down an investor WeChat group, citing “privacy concerns.” According to the complaint, this action coincided with U.S. immigration authorities sending notices of intent to revoke previously approved petitions, and investors allege the move was an attempt to silence questions as the project unraveled.
The plaintiffs contend that misrepresentation, lack of proper financing structures, and inflated project valuations doomed the resort from the start. They are now seeking restitution of their investments plus damages for the alleged misconduct.
The defendants have not yet filed a response to the allegations. Meanwhile, the lawsuit paints a picture of an elaborate scheme that left investors without their money, their promised visas, or the transformative resort that once seemed poised to boost Tinian’s economy.
