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Woman pleads guilty to possessing chemical for making meth
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Posted on Jun 24 2019
A woman pleaded guilty last Thursday for her involvement in a conspiracy to possess a chemical that was intended to be used to make crystal methamphetamine using the so-called shake-and-bake method.
At a change of plea hearing in federal court, Joanne Marie Deleon Guerrero Castro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine, a listed chemical, knowing it would be used to make “ice.”
The offense carries a maximum penalty of not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of not to exceed $1 million.
The advisory sentencing guideline range is between 97 to 121 months of imprisonment.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona set Castro’s sentencing for July 15 at 9am. Castro was allowed to remain at liberty until then.
Robert Torres is the court-appointed counsel for Castro. Assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe represented the U.S. government.
According to police, between Aug. 12, 2017 and Jan. 25, 2018, Castro and others were caught with pseudoephedrine, a listed chemical, knowing it would be used to manufacture “ice.”
Castro admitted to buying 36,600 milligrams of pseudoephedrine 14 times from pharmacies on Saipan.
Last April, Manglona sentenced David Muna Sablan to three years and five months in prison after he pleaded guilty to leaving behind two bags in Garapan that were found to contain chemicals and items used in making methamphetamine through the shake-and- bake method.
Last March 15, Manglona slapped Vincent David Cabrera Jr. and Eugene Repeki Jr. each with a sentence of 15 years imprisonment. The two pleaded guilty to allegations that they were involved in a clandestine “ice laboratory.”
