US Probation office seeks to revoke release of former BMV chief’s co-defendant

The US Probation Office wants the District Court for the NMI to summon former Bureau of Motor Vehicles chief Juanna Deleon Guerrero’s co-defendant in her license fraud case for a revocation or modification of his release.

Yesterday, US Probation officer Juanette David-Atalig filed a petition with the District Court for the NMI asking the court to issue a summons for Li Yongde ordering him to appear at a hearing to determine if his bail should be revoked or modified for violating the terms of his release.

According to David-Atalig’s declaration in support of her petition, since Li was released on his own recognizance back in March, he has violated the terms of release multiple times.

David-Atalig said that Li admitted to driving a vehicle multiple times while on bail even though that was one of the conditions of his release.

In addition, David-Atalig said Li did not not answer truthfully on his regular reports to the US Probation office when he claimed he was never questioned or arrested by law enforcement when in fact he was stopped multiple times on different traffic violations like driving without a license, speeding, and others.

The court has yet to rule on the request.

According to the unsealed information against Li and Deleon Guerrero, on or about Jan. 1, 2020, through about Dec. 20, 2022, on at least 50 occasions, Deleon Guerrero conspired with Li, fellow BMV employees, residents of the CNMI without lawful immigration status, and others, to produce CNMI driver licenses unlawfully for 10 individuals without valid and current legal immigration statuses.

Specifically, Deleon Guerrero permitted Li, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China without lawful immigration status, to bring PRC citizens and other nationalities without lawful immigration status, to the BMV, where those foreign citizens were then issued fraudulent CNMI driver licenses.

Li allegedly charged these individuals around $1,500 to $1,700 for a new license and around $300 to $400 for a renewal license.

Li would accept payments from foreign citizens and bring them to the BMV where they would meet with BMV staff, including Deleon Guerrero.

There, Li would assist foreign citizens by serving as a translator and by submitting driver license applications on their behalf that included fraudulent immigration documents.

The United States says Deleon Guerrero was aware that Li was facilitating these illicit transactions and even directed five members of her staff to assist Li with fraudulent distribution of CNMI driver licenses to foreign citizens without lawful immigration status.

The defendant also communicated directly with Li to make appointments or other necessary arrangements to facilitate the fraudulent scheme.

Deleon Guerrero accepted payments from Li, and others, through cash of upwards of $500.

In addition, the former director and five other members of the BMV were routinely treated to meals bought and paid for by Li.