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18 months for drug dealer
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Posted on Aug 16 2000
U.S. District Judge Alex R. Munson yesterday handed down 18 months imprisonment to a 48-year old Saipan man on drug charges.
Nicholas C. Pinaula, 47, pled not contest one count of conspiracy to possess crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and one count of possession with intent to distribute the illicit drugs.
He was the second man sentenced for the crime after his accomplice, Juan W. Torres, meted five-year jail term last week in the federal court. After serving out his sentence, Mr. Pinaula will be placed under four years of supervised release.
Judge Munson imposed lighter penalties to Mr. Pinaula than Mr. Torres because the latter had a previous drug conviction. Both defendants were charged for the same offense.
They were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the joint DEA/CNMI Task Force in May last year in which Mr. Torres was asked by a cooperating witness for “ice.” He later directed the person to Mr. Pinaula who provided two plates of “ice” for $50, according to court documents.
Mr. Pinaula told the witness of the joint task force that he had run out of “ice” and told the person to wait. He then walked over to Mr. Torres and returned with three plates of “ice.”
