Ex-CPA police officer gets 10-month prison term for ‘ice’

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona on Friday slapped a 10-month prison term against former Commonwealth Ports Authority police officer Floyd Mafnas Mendiola for twice helping to facilitate the sale of methamphetamine or “ice.”

Mendiola was ordered to pay a $100 court assessment fee. He will be required to perform 100 hours of community service. After completing his sentence, Mendiola will be placed on three years of supervised release. During his probation, Mendiola is prohibited from entering poker arcades and from consuming alcoholic beverages.

Manglona also ordered Mendiola to participate in a substance abuse treatment program.

She noted that she heard a lot of positive things about Mendiola, like an employer who fully supports him and the prosecutor even recommending the lowest end of the sentencing guidelines range, which is 10 months imprisonment.

However, Manglona said, Mendiola needs to pay the price for his crime. She said Mendiola was in fact a law enforcer entrusted to uphold the law when he committed the crime Manglona said she trusts that Mendiola will succeed after completing the prison term.

“You are in the right track now,” said Manglona, advising Mendiola to continue doing positive things after serving his prison term.

Before the judge announced the sentence, Mendiola addressed the court. He said he regrets what he had done.

“I apologized to the court for my wrongdoings,” Mendiola said. “Whatever the sentence is, I will accept it.”

Assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe had recommended 10 months in prison, which is the lowest end in the sentencing guidelines.

Backe said Mendiola was a sworn law enforcement officer at that time and that he should protect the community from methamphetamine. Imposing less than 10 months would be a terrible message to law enforcement, he said.

Attorney Joseph Horey, counsel for Mendiola, recommended a sentence of one year probation, with a condition of six months’ home detention. If the court considers it necessary, some lengthier term of probation, home confinement, or combination of the two, but in any event not a term of imprisonment, Horey said.

Horey said that Mendiola’s said role was that a “middleman” or “facilitator” as he did not initiate the transaction, set the terms, or share in the profits. Horey said Mendiola simply brought the buyer to the seller.

Horey also cited Mendola’s excellent employment record, excellent record on pretrial release, and his counselor’s commendation not only for his dedication to his own rehabilitation but for assisting others in the program to do the same.

Horey called to the witness stand Mendiola’s two aunts, Frances Castro Mafnas and Remegio Castro Mafnas, and his current employer, Kevin C. Deleon Guerrero of Priority Care, who all testified of his changed character.

Deleon Guerrero said Mendiola proved that he can be relied upon so he named him to his leadership team and in three months of employment, awarded him “employee of the year.”

Federal agents arrested Mendiola on May 27, 2014, after an indictment was filed charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Feb. 27 to March 2, 2013. Mendiola pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as part of a plea deal.