8 of 14 involved in scheme to enter Guam illegally are released

The U.S. District Court for the NMI presided over the change of plea hearings for eight of the 14 Chinese nationals who were caught attempting to illegally enter Guam via boat over a week ago and have granted their release pending sentencing.

Last Friday, District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona heard the change of plea agreements for Zhang Xiang Ke, Xu Lu, Weng Bin, Gao Xi Ping, Lin Yu Xing, Xu Zi You, Chen Qin, and Shang Guan Hui Ping.

The eight individuals all pleaded guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to transport, move, or attempt to transport or move an alien within the United States in reckless disregard of the fact that the alien entered and remained in the United States in violation of law.

After accepting their guilty pleas, Manglona ordered the individuals to pay an appearance bond pursuant to their plea agreement and were released to their own recognizance pending sentencing.

Aside from the eight who pleaded guilty, six currently await detention pending trial.

The six individuals are Wang Rui, Miao Fu Quan, Li Qin Jiang, Chen Qin Jun, Xu Dong Lin, and Din Hong Mei.

According to court documents, on Sept. 13, HSI agents conducted an enforcement operation with local and federal enforcement partners at Smiling Cove Marina on Saipan.

Prior to the operation, an HSI agent posed as a “boat captain” and entered into an agreement with one of the individuals involved in this case to transport a group to Guam in exchange for payment.

At approximately 3:56am on Sept. 13, HSI personnel and partners observed Xu’s vehicle, followed by two other vehicles entering the Smiling Cove Marina area. Later, officers observed 14 individuals exiting from three vehicles.

The complaint stated that law officers observed 14 individuals putting on lifejackets near the vehicles. After, the vehicles departed the marina.

All 14 individuals boarded the boat that was leased by and under direct HSI control.

On the boat, the undercover agent conducted a roll call of each individual listed on the charter float plan previously provided by Xu.

The “boat captain” then requested for each individual to present proof of payment for the trip.

Each individual presented a bundle of what appeared to be currency when the undercover agent called their names.

All passengers affirmed that they did not want to be detected by law enforcement officials during the trip.

All passengers also affirmed that they were willing and ready to go to Guam and refused the undercover boat captain’s offer to get off the vessel if they did not want to make the trip.

After this, HSI personnel and law enforcement partners apprehended the 14 individuals.

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona