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3 suspects in ‘ice’ shipment case indicted in fed court
Manglona
A federal grand jury has indicted the three suspects in the shipment of 4.9 lbs of methamphetamine or “ice” worth $850,000.
The indictment charged Xi Huang, Shicheng Cai, and Zhaopeng Chen with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The indictment includes a criminal forfeiture allegation.
According to the indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the NMI on Thursday, Huang, Cai, and Chen conspired between Nov. 30 and Dec. 4, 2015, to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona granted the U.S. government’s motion to detain the suspects pending trial after determining that they are a flight risk.
If convicted of the charge, the sentencing guideline range may be from 19 to 24 years imprisonment.
The judge said sophisticated means were used to smuggle the large amount of drugs into Saipan.
Manglona said the evidence suggests that Huang was the leader of this group. She said Huang has some ties to the local community, with both of his parents living in the CNMI and him having lived on Tinian before.
With respect to Cai and Chen, Manglona said the two have no ties to the local community. Cai only arrived on Saipan on Dec. 4, 2015, while Chen arrived on the island on Dec. 2, 2015.
Manglona said Cai’s intent was to depart seven days later, while Chen planned to depart five days later.
Manglona said Cai was arrested just hours after his arrival for committing the charged offense.
Manglona said Cai and Chen may have access to hidden funds that would allow them to finance an escape.
A routine Customs inspection at the Port of Saipan of a 40-foot container from Guangzhou, China, resulted in the discovery of the 4.9 lbs of “ice” hidden in three plastic bags in one of the nine 5-gallon paint containers last Dec. 2.
Joint federal and local enforcers investigated the discovery of the “ice” that led to the arrest on Monday of Huang, Cai, and Chen, all Chinese nationals.
The U.S. government filed a complaint charging the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute “ice.”
