‘Yamagishi suicidal, hooked to gambling, can’t control ice addiction’

Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer Bob Hajime Deleon Guerrero Yamagishi is suicidal, hooked on gambling, can’t control his addiction to methamphetamine or “ice,” and even attempted to become a drug supplier, according to a U.S. CBP Office of Internal Affairs special agent.

U.S. CBP Internal Affairs special agent Brian Kawabata, who is the case agent in Yamaghishi’s investigation, took the witness stand during the detention hearing in the U.S. District Court for the NMI on Friday.

Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy said she is going to release Yamagishi but with very stringent conditions.

“Treatment is the most appropriate thing here,” Kennedy said.

The magistrate judge continued the detention hearing to this Thursday at 1:30pm to allow Yamagishi’s court-appointed counsel, Janet H. King, to arrange for a house where Yamagishi will be placed for monitoring, among other conditions.

Federal agents arrested Yamagishi on Wednesday after an indictment was filed charging him with 37 counts of fraud by wire.

According to the indictment, between July 5 and Aug. 20, 2014, Yamagishi, while a CBP officer, allegedly used his travel cash card at two stores on Saipan to obtain cash or other property and then used the cash to gamble or buy drugs.

Yamagishi allegedly made the illegal cash advance transactions 28 times in July 2014 and nine times in August 2014, for a total amount of $6,227.53.

Yamagishi has already resigned as a CBP officer due to the indictment, Saipan Tribune learned.

During Friday’s detention hearing, assistant U.S. attorney Russell Lorfing said that besides a gambling addiction, Yamagishi made a statement that he’s trying to sell drugs.

“The threat to sell drugs is real,” said Lorfing, adding that it is in the best interest of the community and the defendant to keep him on detention.

Lorfing said Yamagishi’s assurance that he will appear in court is uncertain.

Kawabata said Yamagishi’s former wife disclosed that Yamagishi gave her a suicide note and that she is concerned for her safety because they just recently divorced.

The couple divorced only in March.

Kawabata said his investigation showed that Yamagishi is involved in gambling and meth.

Kawabata said Yamagishi admitted during an interview that his level of addiction to drugs has reached a point where he can’t control it anymore.

Yamagishi even reportedly told his cousin, who is a drug dealer, that he wants to sell drugs, too.

During his last interview with Yamagishi, he said the defendant was very cooperative and expressed that he wants help with his drug addiction.

When Kawabata asked what his response would be if someone were to offer him to smoke “ice” again, Yamagishi replied that it will be very difficult for him to say “no.”

After Kawabata’s testimony, the prosecution called to the witness stand Yamagishi’s mother, Dolores Deleon Guerrero Yamagishi.

Dolores said she is not willing to serve as a third-party custodian for her son.

Dolores said she is concerned that if her son stays with them on Capital Hill, some of his friends would go there.

She also disclosed that she is leaving the island this June.

Yamagishi’s house is in Kagman. Currently, it has no electric power. He also has no car.

Probation officer Margarita Wonenberg recommended that, if Yamagishi is allowed a pre-trial release, he must submit to treatment for substance abuse, no alcohol, and electronic monitoring must be imposed, among other conditions.

Wonenberg said that during her interview, Yamagishi expressed willingness to change, that he is completely remorseful, and is sorry to his former wife and their children.

The probation officer said Yamagishi’s addiction to drugs is serious.

Wonenberg said the mother told her she does not want to serve as third party custodian because of her plan to leave the island. The mother, however, is amenable to have her son use their house, which is equipped with a surveillance camera.

King, in an interview after the hearing, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as the court and the defense are all trying to find reasonable conditions for Yamagishi’s release from detention.

King said the jury trial will be on Aug. 3, 2015, but a defendant has the opportunity to be released before trial.

“We’re working on the conditions that would allow the court to grant that,” she said.