5 arrested for illegal entry to Guam

The U.S. District Court for the NMI previously issued arrest warrants for five individuals—each one facing a count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens—for illegally entering Guam using a boat.

Last month, District Court for the NMI issued five arrest warrants for Sun Xiaojuan, Zhang Liangxian, Gao Bingxing, Jin Suling, and Zhang Weifu, for allegedly chipping in to buy a boat that they later used to transport themselves and four others to Guam to avoid immigration.

The four others aboard the boat to Guam were Liu Shougao, Ma Wenliang, Zhu Xiaohui, and one unnamed Chinese national. The four were named as defendants in this case, but no arrest warrants were issued for them.

Yesterday, the U.S. government, through assistant U.S. Attorney Albert S. Flores Jr., filed a motion for order of detention pending trial for one of the five arrestees, Gao Bingxing. Flores stated in his motion that Gao is a flight risk and he is required to show up to his arraignment today.

Meanwhile, the court has detained Sun Xiaojuan, Jin Suling, and Zhang Weifu, who are also set to appear in court today for their arraignments.

As for Zhang Liangxian, court documents did not mention whether he has been detained. It is presumed that the defendant is out on his own recognizance.

According to the indictment against the defendants, the defendants pooled their money together to purchase a boat for $32,000 on the island of Saipan on or about July 29, 2022. The boat was approximately 26 feet long, with a white fiberglass hull and motorized propeller.

“The boat was used by the defendants, who did not have lawful immigration status, for transportation from the CNMI to Guam on or about July 31, 2022, because the Chinese citizens wanted to avoid immigration processes that was anticipated if travel was completed by commercial airplane. Authorities located the boat in the Hagatna Boat Basin in Guam after it came ashore to Guam from the CNMI with all Chinese citizens on July 31, 2022,” the indictment stated.

If found guilty, the United States wants the defendants to forfeit any conveyance used to carry out the offense they are being charged for, “including any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft used in the commission of the offense of which the defendants are convicted; and any property real or personal—that constitutes, or is derived from or is traceable to proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from the commission of the offense of which the defendants are convicted; or that is used to facilitate, or is intended to be used to facilitate, the commission of the offense of which the defendants are convicted,” the indictment stated.