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3 men charged for stealing lighting units from AMP
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Posted on May 18 2008
Three men were charged in federal court for allegedly engaging in a conspiracy to steal portions of the metal lighting units from the American Memorial Park and selling them to a recycling center.
Dominic Chipwelong, 24; Masaioshy Daikichi Sallem, 35; and James Ochcha, 52; were indicted with conspiracy to sell government property and theft of government property.
In addition, Ochcha was charged with destruction of Veterans’ Memorials.
The three defendants, all Chuukese, pleaded not guilty.
Ochcha was arrested last Friday, while Chipwelong and Sallem surrendered to the Federal Bureau of Investigation last Thursday, Saipan Tribune learned.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson set the jury trial for July 14, 2008 at 9am.
Munson remanded the defendants back into the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
According to the indictment filed by assistant U.S. attorney Beverly R. McCallum, in the morning of Nov. 1, 2007, Chipwelong accompanied by Ochcha sold a portion of the metal lighting units stolen from the American Memorial Park to the employees of Huang Zheng Recycling Center.
In the afternoon on the same day, Chipwelong accompanied by Ochcha allegedly sold another portion of the metal lighting units stolen from the Park to the employees of Huang Zheng Recycling Center.
On Nov. 4, 2007, Sallem allegedly sold a portion of the metal lighting units stolen from the Park to the employees of same recycling center.
The indictment said that on Nov. 5, 2007, Chipwelong sold another portion of the metal lighting units stolen from the Park to the employees of Huang Zheng Recycling Center.
Two days later, Chipwelong and Ochcha went to Huang Zheng Recycling Center and attempted to sell another portion of the metal lighting units stolen from the Park to the center’s employees.
Between Nov. 1 to 7, 2007, the three defendants allegedly stole the metal lighting units worth more than $1,000. The units were the property of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
The indictment said that between Nov. 1 to 7, 2007, Ochcha destroyed the metal lighting units, structures, and monuments at the Court of Honor located on the Park’s property near the Beach Road entrance.
