One of 3 in ice case sentenced today

One of three individuals allegedly involved in smuggling methamphetamine or “ice” through the U.S. Postal Service will be sentenced today, Friday, after she admitted to the crime.

Elaine Francisco Demei is set to appear before U.S District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona at 9am today for her sentencing.

During her change of plea hearing, Demei admitted to picking up with co-defendants Vince Koki Leon Guerrero and Evelyn Chong Tydingco a package at the post office that contained methamphetamine or “ice” that had been sent from California.

Leon Guerrero and Tydingco recently had a tear-filled sentencing two weeks ago, with the court imposing on the two a sentence of 10 years each that will set them apart that long from each other and their 1-year-old son.

Tydingco was sentenced to one of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ facilities in Seattle, Washington. Leon Guerrero was sentenced to a facility where he can learn trade skills.

According to court documents, the package that Demei, Tydingco, and Leon Guerrero picked up was addressed to “Debbie Lee,” a false identity, and was sent to the post office in San Vicente.

The package contained methamphetamine with a net weight of 110.03 grams and with an approximate purity level of 100%, one of the largest amounts seen in the CNMI, according to Manglona.

According to Demei, she and Tydingco arranged for the package to be shipped to Demei’s private mailbox under a false identity because Tydingco was hesitant to use her own private mailbox because her family members could easily access it and obtain the package. The two constantly checked the post office in anticipation of the package’s arrival. After several visits, Demei gave her contact information to the post office so that she would be contacted once the package arrived.

After Demei received a call from the post office, she informed Tydingco, who informed Leon Guerrero, then the three proceeded to the post office to pick up the package. After picking up the package, Demei said she handed it to Tydingco who handed it to Leon Guerrero, who opened the package, setting off a tracking device.

While driving, Demei said that she noticed a car was tailing them, so she proceeded to make random turns. She said Tydingco told her to stop the vehicle at the nearest trash can, but they were pulled over by authorities, arrested, and questioned.