Ex-CBP officer goes back to jail after supervised release revoked

The federal court yesterday revoked the supervised release of Bob Hajime Deleon Guerrero Yamagishi, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who admitted violating the conditions of his probation by using methamphetamine or “ice” last Christmas Day and other times.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona remanded Yamagishi to the custody of the U.S. Marshal and ordered his release on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

After his release, the defendant will be placed on 35 months of supervised release.

The judge said supervised release helps probationers’ re-entry to the community and that she noticed that most of probationers don’t come back to court quickly.

“You’re one of the quickest to return to court,” Manglona told the former CBP officer.

Yamagishi was slapped last Nov. 10 with a sentence of 44-day time served and three years of probation for two counts of wire fraud.

The judge said she is re-imposing the same conditions of defendant’s supervised release so he could be rehabilitated from his drug and gambling addictions.

Manglona said there are many gambling facilities now on Saipan and Yamagishi is not allowed to go inside casinos and other gambling establishments.

Among the many conditions imposed on Yamagishi is to undergo drug testing and participate in drug rehabilitation program.

Manglona said although the supervised release is 35 months, it could be only 25 months if the defendant complies with all the conditions.

“The goal is for you to overcome this drug addiction,” the judge said.

Yamagishi admitted the allegations of using “ice” several times and failing to appear for random drug testing and for counseling sessions.

“I admitted my drug use. I am sick. I’m trying my best,” the defendant said.

Yamagishi said he is still fighting his drug addiction.

He said he always says that he is not a criminal but only has a drug addiction.

“I want to change. That’s not who I am,” he said.

Attorney Janet King said her client, Yamagishi, has a drug addiction that he can’t control.

King said Yamagishi expresses remorse and the need for help.

King said the defendant is willing to participate in the drug court program.

The lawyer said Yamagishi currently got a job at a private company.

Assistant U.S. attorney Russell Lorfing appeared for the U.S. government.

The U.S. Probation Office moved to revoke the supervised release of Yamagishi for violating the conditions of his supervision.

According to U.S. Probation Officer Assistant Juanette David-Atalig, Yamagishi admitted to using “ice” on Dec. 11, 21, and 25, 2015, and on Jan. 10, 2016.

David-Atalig said the offender also failed to appear for random drug testing on Dec. 11 and 12, 2015, and Jan. 8 and 9, 2016.

The probation officer assistant said Yamagishi failed to appear for his counseling sessions on Dec. 12 and 14, 2015, and Jan. 12, 13, and 14, 2016.

U.S. Probation Officer Margarita Wonenberg disclosed yesterday that Yamagishi used “ice” again on Jan. 15, 2016.

Yamagishi was sentenced to time served last November after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud for making illegal cash advance transactions on a travel charge-card between July 4 and Aug. 7, 2014.