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Eight ‘stowaways’ get 1-year probation
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Posted on Mar 28 2006
The federal court yesterday imposed a one-year probation on eight of the 14 Chinese “stowaway” who were on board a Guam-bound fishing boat that was intercepted in December 2005.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson slapped the one-year probation sentence on Wang Zheng Xu, Yi Gen Yang, Rong Hua Ri, Wen Ye He, Hang Wei, Hai Ying Qian, Sheng Yan Gu, and Shui Ying Xu.
Munson said that, during the probationary period, the defendants shall be required to perform 100 hours of community work service.
The judge also ordered the defendants to pay $10 each in special assessment fee.
The eight defendants, along with six co-defendants, pleaded guilty to attempted improper entry by an alien.
One defendant, who served as captain of the boat, has already been deported. The six other defendants are awaiting their sentencing.
Court records show that on Dec. 1, 2005, a Coast Guard investigator received a request from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent for assistance in investigating the expedition of Chinese workers from Saipan to Guam by a small boat.
On Dec. 6, 2005, the boat departed from Saipan. Coast Guard intercepted the boat approximately 11 miles off the coast of Rota, heading on a southerly course.
After intercepting the boat, the Coast Guard escorted the boat containing 14 Chinese nationals back to Saipan.
