YADONG Zhang has admitted that he used a forged People’s Republic of China passport to enter the CNMI in 2018.
At a change of plea hearing on Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI, Zhang pled guilty to one count of forgery or false use of a passport.
The judge said she finds that there is a factual basis for the plea and that the plea was entered into knowingly and voluntarily, without coercion or promises — other than those in the written agreement of the parties, and that the U.S. government will not object to the defendant’s request for home-detention pending sentencing.
“It is recommended that Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona accept the guilty plea and these findings are recommended for her consideration,” Judge Kennedy added.
According to court documents, the defendant on or about Oct. 17, 2018 “willfully and knowingly used a false, forged, counterfeited, and altered passport or instrument purporting to be a People’s Republic of China passport bearing the name of ‘Yadong Zhang,’ in that the defendant presented the said passport or instrument purporting to be a passport to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport to gain entry into the United States, in violation of Title 18, USC section 1543.”
Zhang, who was represented by attorney David Banes, remained released pending sentencing and was ordered to abide by all imposed terms and conditions.
Judge Kennedy scheduled the sentencing hearing for Aug. 13, 2021 at 9 a.m.
