Man in 2 meth cases gets 1 year in prison

Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has imposed a one-year prison term on a man for possession of crystal methamphetamine or “ice.”

Wiseman sentenced Jian Teng Xu, also known as Mr. Li, to one year in prison for four counts of illegal possession of a controlled substance in one case, and one year in prison for one count of illegal possession of a controlled substance in the other case.

Following a plea agreement, Wiseman said both sentences shall run concurrently, minus credit for time served. Xu will not be eligible for parole.

The 43-year-old Xu has already been in jail for a total of 267 days. This means he will be released from the Department of Corrections on Jan. 16, 2009 at 8am.

Upon completing his prison term, the defendant shall be released immediately to the CNMI or federal immigration officials for immediate removal from the Commonwealth.

The judge required Xu to pay a $2,000 fine. He said probation fees are not needed as the defendant shall be deported immediately after completing his prison term.

The defendant has agreed to cooperate with any ongoing criminal investigation and provide truthful information. He agreed to be deported to China.

Xu and counsel assistant public defender Matthew Holley signed a plea agreement with the CNMI government. He pleaded guilty to four counts of illegal possession of controlled substance in the 2007 case, and also pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of controlled substance in the 2008 case.

In filing the charges, the Attorney General’s Office alleged that Xu distributed “ice” on Dec. 6, 7, 11, and 17, 2007.

According to a member of the Drug Enforcement Task Force, using a “confidential source” they were able to buy $250 worth of “ice” from the defendant at a parking lot of a store in As Lito on Dec. 6, 2007.

The following day, an undercover Task Force agent was able to buy $250 worth of “ice” from Xu at a parking lot of the same store in As Lito.

On Dec. 11, 2007, the undercover agent again purchased $250 worth “ice” from Xu at a parking lot of a store in Koblerville.

On Dec. 17, 2007, the Task Force members arrested Xu after he handed $500 worth of “ice” to the undercover agent at a parking lot of another store in Koblerville.