GUAM NEWS – November 17, 2011

Chief Judge Frances m. Tydingco-Gatewood, District Court of Guam, has sentenced Eric I. Manibusan to a total of 27 months federal incarceration following his conviction of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to a statement issued by U.S. Attorney Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, Manibusan pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2010.

Upon release from imprisonment, Manibusan will be on supervised release for three years. Manibusan was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Services.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rostta San Nicolas prosecuted the case for the government and was assisted by special agents from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (USAO)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded the Ocean Thermal Energy Corp. $50,000 in federal financial assistance that will be used to promote the development of renewable energy systems.

The Rural Development grant will assist the Ocean Thermal Energy Corp. to conduct a feasibility study to determine the technical and economical practicality of building and operating an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, or OTEC, plant in Guam.

“The federal grant…is a step toward promoting renewable energy [in] Guam,” said Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo yesterday. “It is important that Guam continue to invest in sustainable energy technologies in our community. The feasibility study…will explore [OTEC] as a renewable energy alternative for Guam. OTEC has great potential for our island and it is important that it is explored as an economic alternative to fossil fuels.”

After a six-day jury trial in criminal case U.S. vs. Henry Fresnoza, the defendant was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute crystal meth, conspiracy to import crystal meth and four counts of money laundering. Fresnoza was found not guilty of four money laundering counts.

The 12-count indictment was filed on June 1, 2011.

Fresnoza faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 20 years to life, and fines of up to $20 million, according to Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, U.S. Attorney for the district of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The trial was conducted by assistant U.S. attorney Karon V. Johnson, with the assistance of special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Section, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Credit is also given to the Guam police department for their assistance in this investigation. (USAO)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo issued yesterday the following statement regarding Department of the Navy’s intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed live firing range complex on Guam to support the Marine Corps relocation.  The Navy is litigating the manner in which it conducted the “Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Environmental Impact Statement” regarding its adherence to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, specifically pertaining to the preferred site location for a live-fire training range in the Pågat area.

“The Navy is taking a prudent step in preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement to better address the ongoing concerns in our community regarding the preferred location for the firing range,” said Bordallo. “I look forward to working with the Navy, the Marine Corps, as well as stakeholders and leaders on Guam to look at alternative locations for the proposed firing range, and I will urge the Navy to consider alternative locations that were proposed by local leaders and stakeholders during public forums last year on the EIS. I will also work with the Navy and local leaders to ensure that this process is open and transparent and that our community is given the opportunity to provide input before a Record of Decision is developed.” (PR)