Ex-BMV chief sentenced to 5 years

Former Department of Public Safety Bureau of Motor Vehicles director Juana C. Leon Guerrero has been sentenced to an imprisonment term of five years for pleading guilty to her involvement in a license fraud scheme.

Last Friday, following a nearly six-hour long sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Leon Guerrero to a 60-month imprisonment term or about five years.

During last Friday’s hearing, the court also imposed a 10-month sentence on Leon Guerrero’s co-defendant Li Yongde, also known as “Ike.”

In addition, the court ordered that Leon Guerrero be placed under three years’ probation upon her release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

“Pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, and considering provisions found in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), it is the judgment of the court that the defendant, Leon Guerrero, is hereby sentenced to imprisonment of 60 months followed by a term of 3 years supervised release. Accordingly, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583, the mandatory conditions are to be imposed immediately,” said Manglona.

The judge also imposed a $15,000 fine on Leon Guerrero.

“Defendant shall pay a fine of $15,000. Payment in the amount of $50 a month to begin Jan. 15, 2024. Defendant shall pay a special assessment fee of $100 to be paid immediately after sentencing,” said Manglona.

However, until Leon Guerrero is placed at one of the facilities under the Federal Bureau of Prisons, she will remain on conditional release.

As part of her release conditions, Leon Guerrero must check in with the U.S. Marshals Service every Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays or she faces another possible charge.

During her sentencing last Friday, the court heard from Leon Guerrero’s mother, former Department of Public Safelty assistant chief Anthony Macaranas, and Leon Guerrero herself.

Leon Guerrero’s mother asked that the court be lenient with her daughter as she has shown remorse for her involvement in a license fraud scheme.

Macaranas told the court that he has known Leon Guerrero for years during his time at DPS and attests that she is a good person who made bad choices. He asked that the court be lenient with her sentence.

Lastly, Leon Guerrero gave her allocution stating that she is sorry for dishonoring her family and for what she did under the color of office while she was BMV chief.

Meanwhile, Manglona sentenced Li to a 10-month imprisonment term with credit for 12 days of time served.

Li’s sentence is much shorter than his co-defendant’s as his counsel, Janet King, argued that if not for his cooperation, the federal government would not have been able to catch Leon Guerrero and other BMV staff alleged to have participated in the scheme.

In addition, Li will perform 50 hours of community service as well as made to pay a $200 fee.

He was remanded back to USMS custody following the sentencing hearing.

“Pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, and considering provisions found in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), it is the judgment of the court that the defendant, Li, is hereby sentenced to an imprisonment of 10 months with credit for time served 12 days followed by a term of three years supervised release. Accordingly, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583, the mandatory conditions are to be imposed immediately. Defendant shall pay a special assessment fee of $200 to be paid immediately after sentencing. The defendant must perform 50 hours of community service in lieu of a fine,” said Manglona.