Man gets two years for pushing ‘ice’

The federal court yesterday imposed a two-year prison term on a drug pusher who was arrested last year during a pursuit that injured one police officer.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson sentenced Zong Guo Li to a total of 24 months in prison for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “ice” near a school.

Upon release from prison, Li will be placed on six years supervised release. Among the conditions of the supervised release is that Li shall be turned over to an Immigration official for deportation.

Li will also be required to perform 200 hours of community service.

Munson ordered him to immediately pay a $300 special assessment fee to the U.S. government.

After yesterday’s hearing, Li was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Li was actually facing eight separate charges. He and counsel G. Anthony Long signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government.

He pleaded guilty to three charges in connection with his possession with the intent to distribute “ice.” The remaining charges were dismissed.

A Drug Enforcement Administration special agent stated in court papers that beginning on May 8, 2007 up to Nov. 7, 2007, Li and other persons conspired to distribute “ice” on Saipan. In several instances, police used a “cooperating source” to buy “ice” from Li near Hanam Market in Koblerville, which is located less than 1,000 feet from Saipan Southern High School.

On one occasion, the agent said, when a detective wearing a vest with the word “POLICE” approached Li’s vehicle and attempted to open the driver’s side, Li sped away.

The detective was forced to jump out of the path of Li’s vehicle to avoid being run down.

Li then turned down a dead-end dirt road in Koblerville where he jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to run into the jungle.

Surveillance officers pursued Li on foot. A detective struck a piece of tin that was attached to a building at the end of the road. The detective sustained a large laceration to his leg.

The officers subsequently tackled the defendant.

During the search, the agent said, detectives recovered from Li’s vehicle 24 grams of ice, including the packaging.

During the search at Li’s residence in Afetnas, the agent added, detectives recovered 93 grams of bags similar to those used to package “ice.”