Second man in passport switch enters guilty plea

A man who was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the illegal operation of a taxicab posed as another person by presenting authorities with another individual’s passport and agreeing to be deported to China.

Authorities only discovered Jiang Zhejun’s switching passport scheme at the Saipan International Airport on deportation day.

Zhejun, 29, was charged with misuse of a passport yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

Zhejun signed a plea agreement with the U.S. government. He pleaded guilty to the information charging him with one count of misuse of a passport.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and set the sentencing for May 26 at 9am.

Misuse of a passport carries a maximum imprisonment of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

Under the plea agreement, the recommended range of imprisonment is between zero to six months in jail and a fine between $1,000 to $10,000 if the court decides a defendant has the ability to pay a fine.

Munson remanded the defendant back to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

According to the charging information, on July 18, 2008, Zhejun used and attempted to use a People’s of China passport issued and designed for the sole use of another person named Yin Minghao. Zhejun surrendered Minghao’s passport to local authorities, posing as Minghao.

According to the plea agreement, on July 17, 2008, police officer Chris Guerrero stopped and questioned Zhejun on suspicion of driving an illegal taxicab.

Zhejun informed Guerrero that he was Minghao. He was subsequently arrested for failing to comply with the terms and conditions of Minghao’s entry into the CNMI.

On July 18, Zhejun used Minghao’s passport by surrendering it to CNMI immigration officials as a condition of his release. On Aug. 14, Zhejun agreed to deportation as a result of his arrest under Minghao’s name.

Last Aug. 16, the defendant drove with Minghao to the Saipan International Airport for his scheduled deportation (posing as Minghao).

CNMI Immigration investigator John Peter met the defendant at the airport and assisted him with checking in by providing the airline with Minghao’s passport and subsequently gave the passport to Zhejun.

Zhejun then evaded Peter and met Minghao at the airport parking lot to give the passport back to Minghao.

Minghao then attempted to leave Saipan on the flight that Zhejun was to board (posing as himself).

Zhejun left the airport and failed to depart the CNMI.

Minghao, 27, had also pleaded guilty to one count of misuse of a passport. His sentencing was set for April 7.