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Remoket couple gets jail time for “ice”
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Posted on May 28 1999
The U.S. District Court yesterday valued the testimony made by Johnny Remoket and gave him half of the total jail time required for his wife.
During the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Alex Munson said he will be under the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for 46 months.
Meanwhile, his wife Rizalinda Remoket was ordered to spend 87 months in federal prison.
The Remokets were convicted for the importation of controlled substance sometime in April 1998.
On what the court referred to as downward departure, US Atty. Gregory Baka and Remoket’s lawyer asked the court to honor what was provided for in the plea agreement.
Mr. Remoket’s testimony was considered valuable to the investigation which helped the court pursue the drug importation case and prosecute the involved parties.
For his contributions in the litigation process, the government promised to offer him the minimum punishment.
Munson was about to hand him a similar jail term with his wife when both lawyers reminded him about the plea agreement.
“Maybe only a few would be cooperating (in the future),” Baka said if the court would insist on the maximum term. The court’s refusal to honor the agreement may drive future witnesses.
By applying the downward departure, Munson handed him the 46 months jail time.
“It is appropriate in this case since he accepted his responsibility and cooperated with the government,” the judge said.
However, Rizalinda, a Filipina, took a harsher punishment. She was believed to have sent over 100 grams of “ice” from the Philippines to Saipan through the DHL parcel.
“I’m sorry for all those things. I will not do it again,” she told the judge.
Even if she had no prior criminal records and right away took responsibility for her actions, Munson said, citing a US campaign against drugs.
“They will be severely punished like this defendant,” he said.
