2 Saipan men sentenced for stealing gun, drug possession

U.S. District Judge Alex R. Munson yesterday sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours of community service a Saipan man who pled no contest to stealing a gun from a car accident victim.

Marciano Mendiola Camacho took a Smith and Wesson pistol from Phil Litulumar, a agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, after he was injured in a car accident in the early morning of October 11 last year.

“The defendant realizes that what he did was stupid,” said Judge Munson during the sentencing.

Based on his plea agreement last April, Mr. Camacho admitted to taking the service revolver when Mr. Litulumar got trapped in his pick-up truck after the accident.

A police officer who responded to the crash site was calling police for back-up and failed to notice the stealing.

Because of his plea, Mr. Camacho evaded heavy punishment for possession of stolen firearm, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 and a supervised release of up to three years if convicted.

Meanwhile, Judge Munson also sent another Saipan resident to five years in prison on two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and possession with intent to distribute the controlled substance.

Assistant District Attorney David T. Wood, lead prosecutor, said the sentence was higher than what the government recommended to the judge of 30 months in prison.

Mr. Torres, 48, had pled guilty to the drug charges, but a 1992 drug conviction prompted Judge Munson to impose a stricter sentence, said Mr. Wood.

The defendant was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the joint DEA/CNMI Task Force in May last year in which he was asked by a cooperating witness for “ice.”

But Mr. Torres, whom Mr. Wood said was a user and a dealer of the illicit drug, directed the person to Nicholas C. 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.”

Charged by the district attorney at the same time with Mr. Torres, Mr. Pinaula is also expected to be sentenced in the federal court.