The U.S. District Court yesterday valued the testimony made by Johnny Remoket and gave him half of the total jail time required for his wife.<\/p>\n
During the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Alex Munson said he will be under the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for 46 months.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, his wife Rizalinda Remoket was ordered to spend 87 months in federal prison.<\/p>\n
The Remokets were convicted for the importation of controlled substance sometime in April 1998.<\/p>\n
On what the court referred to as downward departure, US Atty. Gregory Baka and Remoket’s lawyer asked the court to honor what was provided for in the plea agreement.<\/p>\n
Mr. Remoket’s testimony was considered valuable to the investigation which helped the court pursue the drug importation case and prosecute the involved parties.<\/p>\n
For his contributions in the litigation process, the government promised to offer him the minimum punishment.<\/p>\n
Munson was about to hand him a similar jail term with his wife when both lawyers reminded him about the plea agreement.<\/p>\n
“Maybe only a few would be cooperating (in the future),” Baka said if the court would insist on the maximum term. The court’s refusal to honor the agreement may drive future witnesses.<\/p>\n
By applying the downward departure, Munson handed him the 46 months jail time.<\/p>\n
“It is appropriate in this case since he accepted his responsibility and cooperated with the government,” the judge said.<\/p>\n
However, Rizalinda, a Filipina, took a harsher punishment. She was believed to have sent over 100 grams of “ice” from the Philippines to Saipan through the DHL parcel.<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry for all those things. I will not do it again,” she told the judge.<\/p>\n
Even if she had no prior criminal records and right away took responsibility for her actions, Munson said, citing a US campaign against drugs.<\/p>\n
“They will be severely punished like this defendant,” he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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