Deviant Guard nabs five of 50 targeted sex offenders

CNMI, Guam, and federal agencies launched this month Operation Deviant Guard, a three-day compliance check targeting 50 registered sex offenders in the Commonwealth.

The operation reportedly resulted in the successful location and verification of 40 offenders, the arrest of five for non-compliance, and seizure of $7,000 worth of marijuana plants.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Ramon Mafnas, U.S. Marshal for Districts of Guam/NMI Frank Leon Guerrero, and U.S. Marshals for the Districts of Guam/NMI senior inspector John Untalan announced the result of the operation in a news briefing yesterday at the Department of Corrections’ conference room. Police officer Jason Tarkong who is also the officer-in-charge for DPS Sex Offender Registry Unit, joined the briefing with chief parole officer Joseph Guerrero.

“This initiative is the first of many operations planned for the future in an effort to protect and safeguard our community and most especially the safety of our children in the community,” Mafnas said.

Tarkong said that information gathered during the operation determined that one targeted offender had been deported to the Philippines and another was deported to Palau.

Tarkong said three other offenders are subject to ongoing criminal investigations as they are believed to be in various locations in the continental U.S. and Hawaii.

Tarkong said the task force also found marijuana plants in various residences around Saipan. “The marijuana plants were seized, processed as evidence, and turned over to narcotics officers for follow-up investigations,” he said.

Of the 50 targets, Tarkong said that three are on Rota and three are on Tinian.

Mafnas expressed gratitude to the U.S. Marshals Service and all other agencies that took part in the operation. Other agencies involved were the CNMI Board of Parole, CNMI Office of Adult Probation, Guam Police Department, Judiciary of Guam Marshals Division, and Guam Department of Corrections.

Mafnas said the efforts of these law enforcement professionals were instrumental in the successful execution of the operation.

“This is why this multi-agency is extremely important. It’s not possible to accomplish this task without…outside assistance,” said Mafnas.

Only two personnel are assigned to the Sex Offender Registry.

Under local and federal laws, any person convicted of a sexual crime is required to register as a sex offender.

Tarkong said there are 134 registered sex offenders in the CNMI but some of them are no longer required to register after meeting the 10-year requirement. Some are off island, some are deceased, and others are in prison.

Guam U.S. Marshals senior inspector John Untalan said there are 400 registered sex offenders in Guam. Untalan, who is the coordinator for the Guam Sex Offender Registry, said that they targeted 150 offenders in February.

Untalan said they are thankful to DPS and other agencies for allowing the U.S. Marshals Service to come and help the Sex Offender Registry here.

“It’s an excellent relationship between two islands [Guam and the CNMI] working collaboratively to make sure the Sex Offender Registry is in compliance with the required mandate of law,” Untalan said.

Leon Guerrero said the U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies pooled their resources and investigative capabilities in a joint effort to make this operation very successful.