A man was slapped with a 46-month prison term yesterday in federal court for conspiracy to sell methamphetamine or \u201cice\u201d on Saipan.<\/p>\n
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona gave defendant Zhao Sheng Zeng credit for time served.<\/p>\n
Zeng, 43, has been in prison for 326 days as of yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe severity of this crime justifies this term of imprisonment,\u201d Manglona said.<\/p>\n
The judge said she was inclined to impose higher prison term but considered Zeng\u2019s personal background and acceptance of responsibility.<\/p>\n
Zeng has no prior criminal history. He has a 12-year-old son on Saipan and another child in China. He also maintained that he is never an \u201cice\u201d user.<\/p>\n
After completing the prison term, Zeng will be placed on three years of supervised release. During the supervised release, he shall surrender to immigration for deportation proceedings.<\/p>\n
Zeng was required to pay a $100 special assessment fee.<\/p>\n
Manglona said her previous order is now final with respect to the forfeiture to the U.S. government about defendant\u2019s $7,900 in the form of a personal money judgment as a result of the defendant\u2019s entering a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.<\/p>\n
Before the sentencing was handed down, Zeng, through an interpreter, apologized for the crime that he committed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI admit I was wrong. I\u2019m really sorry to the U.S. government and to the court,\u201d Zeng said. \u201cI will never commit mistake again in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assistant U.S. attorney Ross Naughton recommended a sentence of 46 months, which is the lowest end of the sentencing guidelines pursuant to the plea agreement.<\/p>\n
Naughton filed in court authorities\u2019 photo of Zeng when he was counting $4,000 cash during a drug transaction on June 19, 2013.<\/p>\n
Naughton said Zeng is not a minor participant in the conspiracy considering the enormous amount of cash involved.<\/p>\n
Court-appointed counsel David G. Banes recommended a sentence of 36 to 40 months in prison and a credit for time served.<\/p>\n
Banes said the defendant has no criminal history, has provided assistance to authorities in the investigation, has no education, and has two children.<\/p>\n
Manglona granted the prosecution\u2019s motion to dismiss the remaining three charges of distribution of methamphetamine.<\/p>\n
Federal agents arrested Zeng on July 29, 2014 after the indictment was filed.<\/p>\n
According to the indictment, from May 9, 2013 through June 19, 2013, Zeng intentionally conspired with persons to distribute \u201cice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zeng also allegedly intentionally distributed \u201cice\u201d on May 9, 16, and 19, 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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