Previous Story
Man who stole AMP lights gets 21 months
|
Posted on Feb 19 2009
The federal court imposed Wednesday a 21-month prison sentence on an employee of the Commonwealth Health Center who was among three men convicted of conspiring to steal portions of metal lighting units at the American Memorial Park.
After completing his prison term, Masaioshy Daikichi Sallem shall be placed on supervised probation for three years, said U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson.
Upon release, Sallem will be referred to an immigration official for deportation, Munson added.
The judge required the defendant to perform 300 hours of community service and pay jointly with co-defendants $35,490 in restitution to the National Park Service and American Memorial Park.
Sallem was also ordered to immediately pay a $200 special assessment fee.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly McCallum had recommended a 21-month prison term with credit for time served, full restitution jointly with co-defendants, and deportation.
Sallem’s lawyer, court-appointed counsel Steven Pixley, urged just 10 months.
Leonardo M. Rapadas, the U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the NMI, said the Federal Bureau of Investigation took up the case with the assistance of the National Park Service.
“The national parks are treasures for all of us to enjoy. It only takes a few individuals to destroy them. The sentence sends a message that we will protect that resource,” Rapadas said.
In October 2008, a federal jury found Sallem guilty of one count of conspiracy to sell government property and one count of unauthorized sale of government property.
The conspiracy and unauthorized sale were related to the theft of lighting units from AMP in November 2007.
Sallem and his co-defendants, Dominic Chipwelong and James Ochcha, are all Chuukese. Chipwelong and Ochcha both entered a guilty plea.
