Man involved in license fraud scheme to plead guilty

The man accused of conspiring with former Bureau of Motor Vehicles director Juana Deleon Guerrero to produce fraudulent CNMI driver’s licenses is set to plead guilty in the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

Li Yongde, better known as “Ivan,” has agreed to a plea agreement in the license fraud case filed against him in the District Court for the NMI.

Assistant U.S. attorney Albert S. Flores Jr. filed a motion yesterday, asking the District Court to set the case for a change of plea hearing next Tuesday, June 11.

“In light of the plea agreement signed by the parties and filed with the court on July 3, the United States of America hereby moves this court to set this matter for a change of plea hearing on June 11,” states the motion.

Over a week ago, Ivan’s co-conspirator, Deleon Guerrero, changed her plea from not guilty to guilty for one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce an identification document, specifically local driver’s licenses.

District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy has since recommended the matter for sentencing to U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona.

Pursuant to her plea agreement, Deleon Guerrero is looking at a sentence between three and five years for her involvement in fraudulently producing over 50 licenses to undocumented individuals.

According to the unsealed information against Deleon Guerrero, on or about Jan. 1, 2020, through about Dec. 20, 2022, on at least 50 occasions, Deleon Guerrero conspired with Ivan, fellow BMV employees, residents of the CNMI without lawful immigration status, and others, to produce CNMI driver licenses unlawfully for 10 individuals without valid and current legal immigration statuses.

Specifically, Deleon Guerrero permitted Ivan, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China without lawful immigration status, to bring PRC citizens and other nationalities without lawful immigration status, to the BMV, where those foreign citizens were then issued fraudulent CNMI driver licenses.

Ivan allegedly charged these individuals around $1,500 to $1,700 for a new license and around $300 to $400 for a renewal license.

Ivan would accept payments from foreign citizens and bring them to the BMV where they would meet with BMV staff, including Deleon Guerrero.

There, Ivan would assist foreign citizens by serving as a translator and by submitting driver license applications on their behalf that included fraudulent immigration documents.

The United States says Deleon Guerrero was aware that Ivan was facilitating these illicit transactions and even directed five members of her staff to assist Ivan with fraudulent distribution of CNMI driver licenses to foreign citizens without lawful immigration status.

The defendant also communicated directly with Ivan to make appointments or other necessary arrangements to facilitate the fraudulent scheme.

Deleon Guerrero accepted payments from Ivan, and others, through cash of upwards of $500.

In addition, the former director and five other members of the BMV were routinely treated to meals bought and paid for by Ivan.