Previous Story
Man in 3rd largest ‘ice’ haul gets 15 yrs., 8 months prison sentence
|
Posted on May 27 2009
The federal court yesterday sentenced to 15 years and eight months a former garment worker who was found guilty in the third largest haul of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “ice” in the CNMI so far.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson said upon release from imprisonment, Yong Ming Song will be placed on a supervised release for 10 years.
Munson gave the 42-year-old Song credit for the time he has already served in jail.
Song was ordered to immediately pay a $100 special assessment fee.
After completing his prison sentence, Song will be delivered to an Immigration official for deportation proceedings.
If immediate deportation fails to occur and the defendant is released, Song shall immediately report to the U.S. Probation Office for supervised release, Munson said.
During the probationary period, Song will be required to perform 300 hours of community service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Benedetto had recommended a sentence of 216 months in prison with supervised release, deportation, and a fine of $500,000 if the defendant is able to pay such a fine.
Joey San Nicolas, counsel for Song, moved for the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. He asked for a waiver on all fines due to the defendant’s inability to pay any fines.
Last February, the jurors found Song guilty of possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school with intent to distribute. The jurors determined that the defendant had intended to distribute 149.4 grams of “ice.”
Benedetto stated during the trial that 149 grams of “ice” worth between $60,000 to $75,000 were seized from Song’s vehicle.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration special agent’s report, Police Sergeant Anthony Macaranas and Police Officer Daniel Punimata had flagged down Song’s car along Beach Road in San Jose on Sept. 11, 2008, after seeing him drive without a seatbelt.
Song’s suspicious behavior prompted them to search the vehicle, where they found the illegal drug.
Song argued that he just picked up a package that a friend had asked him to get, not knowing that it contained illegal drugs.
