Big time ‘ice’ supplier gets 11 years, 3 months in jail

Yu Hua Wang, the alleged second in command of an organization of drug suppliers on Saipan, was slapped yesterday in federal court with a sentence of 11 years and three months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or “ice.”

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona gave Wang credit of time served.

Wang has been under federal custody since February 2014 when he and six other persons were arrested by joint local and federal law enforcements for distribution of “ice.”

Manglona said after serving the prison term, the defendant will be placed on supervised release for five years.

During the supervised release, Wang will be immediately turned over to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.

Wang was ordered to pay jointly with co-defendant, Xing Bo Fang, $2,600 in restitution to the U.S. government.

The U.S. government waived forfeiture proceedings.

Manglona said Wang, who has a U.S. citizen daughter, engaged in numerous violations of laws while given privilege to remain in the CNMI.

Manglona said the crime that the defendant committed is serious as it involved distribution of “ice,” one of the most devastating drugs that continue to plague the community.

The judge noted that Wang had a prior drug case in the Superior Court, but it was subsequently dismissed.

Manglona said a few days later after the case was dismissed, Wang engaged in the same drug activity conduct.

Manglona said this exemplifies the defendant’s character—complete disregard of law.

The judge said Wang is thinking that he cannot be held accountable.

Manglona said after pleading guilty, Wang gave unbelievable statements to the U.S. Probation Office in particular to his prior employment in which he received $20,000 to $30,000 in tips from tourists.

Manglona said Wang would not receive such tips unless he’s engaged in conduct of “ice” distribution in which he is convicted of.

The judge said other defendants who pleaded guilty, there’s actual remorse or sorry.

Manglona said she does not see it from Wang, which is very concerning.

Before the sentencing was handed down, Wang, through an interpreter, apologized for the crime that he committed.

Wang also said sorry to his daughter, who was in the courtroom, and to his parents in China.

“My health condition is not good. I always have headache,” he said.

Attorney Robert T. Torres, counsel for Wang, recommended the mandatory minimum prison term of 120 months.

“It’s a 10-year sentence. That’s an adequate deterrence,” Torres said, adding that the defendant pleaded guilty.

Torres said Wang has a U.S. citizen minor child.

Assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe recommended a sentence of the maximum 135 months imprisonment.

Backe said Wang’s conduct shows his lack of respect of the law.

U.S. Probation Officer Margarita Wonenberg recommended the same 135 months imprisonment.

Wang’s co-defendant, Fang, pleaded guilty to the same offense in April 2014. He has yet to be sentenced.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Fang sold about 98.7 grams of 98.0 percent pure methamphetamine hydrochloride to a confidential source of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Dec. 27, 2013, at the instruction of Wang. Fang himself personally handled the drug and handed it over to the DEA confidential source.

According to the prosecution, while the confidential source did not give any money to Fang or Wang on that day, the confidential source later gave Wang $8,500 in U.S. government “buy money.”

Before that, on Nov. 18, 2013, Fang sold 14.6 grams of “ice” to the same DEA confidential source for $2,700, the prosecution said.