Of the 24 arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last Jan. 5, 18 have already signed plea agreements, admitting that they attempted to enter Guam illegally on a boat launched from Saipan.
After hearing arguments from the defendants’ court-appointed attorneys and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Designated Judge David Wiseman allowed Shi Guang Li and Jun Li Yong to each post $2,500 bail in unsecured bond.
They were also told to stay away 200 feet of the ocean, and not to leave the island without permission from the court.
They will return to court for their next hearing on Feb. 18.
They are represented by court-appointed lawyers Bruce Berline and Anthony Long.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler is prosecuting the case.
Another defendant, Wei Kun Zhong, through court-appointed attorney Sean Frink, has filed a motion to dismiss the charges.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s masseuse Qingmei Cheng, who has pleaded not guilty, was released on Thursday after posting $1,000 bail and issuing $9,000 in unsecured bond.
Cheng and Jian Li were each charged with 22 counts of attempting to bring an alien to the United States.
Cheng, who was detained at the Department of Corrections facility, was “transferred” by four corrections officials to the governor’s residence so she could massage him in the early morning of Jan. 8.
Cheng and Jian Li are being represented by court-appointed attorneys Joseph Horey and Joe Hill respectively.
Fitial’s masseuse will return to court for her jury trial on May 10, 2010.
Cheng was ordered not have any contact with “potential witnesses.”
