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Sentencing of ex-cop in ‘ice’ trafficking case delayed anew
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Posted on Jul 21 2011
The federal court ordered again yesterday another delay in the sentencing of a former police officer who had pleaded guilty to meth trafficking charges.
U.S. District Court for the NMI visiting judge William Q. Hayes set the new sentencing of Florencio Quitugua Richards to Aug. 24, 2011, at 10:30am. Hayes approved the delay after Richards, through counsel Michael Evangelista, objected to the presentence investigation report.
The sentencing was supposed to take place today, Friday. It has already been moved twice at the request of the U.S. Probation Office so it could complete its presentence investigation report.
Yesterday, Hayes decided to move the sentencing to Aug. 24 to give both the U.S. Probation Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office more time to respond to Richards’ objections to the presentence investigation report.
Evangelista told Saipan Tribune yesterday that the delay was “unavoidable.”
He said that based on their review of the presentence investigation report, they feel strongly that there were several issues of concerns that merit their objection.
“My client has been performing and responding exceptionally well in his counseling and substance abuse treatment regiment, and has abided faithfully to all his presentence release conditions,” Evangelista said.
He said Richards will continue with treatment and that they are excited about the progress they have seen and continue to see.
Richards pleaded guilty on Feb. 9, 2011, to conspiracy to distribute “ice,” distribution of “ice,” and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
