Probable cause found to charge two in ‘ice’ cases

The Superior Court has found probable cause to warrant the filing of charges against former Department of Corrections officer Thomas C. Camacho and another man, who stand accused of smoking methamphetamine or “ice” inside a bar and trafficking “ice” respectively.

In a preliminary hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho found probable cause to charge Thomas Camacho with illegal possession of a controlled substance and disturbing the peace.

In separate preliminary hearing, Judge Camacho found probable cause to charge Zhi Peng Huang, also known as Dandan and Boss, with two counts of trafficking of a controlled substance, and two counts of illegal possession of a controlled substance.

Thomas Camacho and Huang were ordered to answer the charges.

Arraignment will be on June 1 at 9am.

Chief Prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas called to the witness stand police detective Rudolpho Hermosilla Jr. in the case against Camacho and police detective Andew Taimanao in the case against Huang.

Assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit appeared as counsel for both Camacho and Huang.

Thomas Camacho, 55, was apprehended last May 11 for allegedly smoking “ice” and harassing customers and workers at the Naked Fish Bar and Restaurant in Susupe.

When confronted by a police officer, Thomas Camacho called the bar employees “terrorists” and showed off an identification card, saying he is with the CIA.

Last month, Thomas Camacho was also arrested for allegedly sexually harassing the wife of former representative Juan Reyes at a restaurant in Chalan Piao.

Last week, members of the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Huang and seven others for allegedly selling “ice” on Saipan.

Police detective Taimanao stated in his report that a cooperating source told him and police detective Catherine Pangelinan last March 28 that Huang was in possession of about 10 grams of “ice” and that he sells “ice” from his apartment unit in Dandan.

Taimanao said during a sting operation on April 2, their cooperating source managed to purchase $150 worth of .8 gross grams of “ice” from Huang at his apartment in Dandan and $200 more worth of 1.4 grams of “ice” last April 6 in the parking lot of Han Nam Supermarket in Koblerville.