Man gets 46 mos. prison term for selling ‘ice’

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The federal court slapped a three-year-and-10-month prison term on a man who admitted to selling methamphetamine or “ice” on Saipan.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Hong Wang last week to 46 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $2,200 to the Drug Enforcement Administration and $100 in court assessment fee.

Manglona also ordered Wang to pay $2,400 pursuant to a preliminary order of forfeiture, but the U.S. government may move to substitute any property not to exceed the value of $2,400 to satisfy this obligation.

The judge said the plea agreement previously contemplated the forfeiture of Wang’s 2005 Toyota Corolla sedan but this will not be part of the order due to the car’s ownership dispute.

After completing the prison term, Wang will be placed on three years of supervised release. He was given credit for time served.

After serving his prison term, he will be turned over to immigration for removal proceedings.

Assistant U.S. attorney Ross Naughton appeared for the U.S. government. Attorney Colin Thompson served as court-appointed counsel for Wang.

Wang, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine. As part of the deal, the U.S. government moved to dismiss the remaining charge. The court granted the motion.

According to the factual basis of the plea deal, on March 6, 2013, Wang sold 9.7 grams of “ice” to an individual working as a confidential source for DEA in exchange for $2,400.

On Aug. 20, 2013, Wang sold another 9.7 grams of “ice” to the same DEA confidential source in exchange for $2,200.

Ferdie De La Torre | Reporter
Ferdie Ponce de la Torre is a senior reporter of Saipan Tribune. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has covered all news beats in the CNMI. He is a recipient of the CNMI Supreme Court Justice Award. Contact him at ferdie_delatorre@Saipantribune.com

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