Visiting Chief Judge William H. Alsup of the Northern District of California reminded the jurors not to discuss the case with anyone before dismissing them yesterday afternoon.
The defendants — Shixu Huang, Lihua Yi, Zhanshan Zhang, and Pingping Zhang — are charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler, who prosecuted the case, and the court-appointed attorneys, Michael Dotts, Bruce Berline, Anthony Long, and Mark Hanson, delivered their closing arguments yesterday morning.
The prosecution maintained the group tried to sneak into Guam, not because of their desire for jobs or application for an asylum, but to defraud the U.S. government.
Schuler said their case was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants had an agreement; tried to obstruct a lawful government function; used deceitful or dishonest means; and committed an over act.
But the defense lawyers said the U.S. government “jumped into a wrong conclusion,” as they maintained that their clients wanted to seek asylum on Guam.
There was no deceit, they said.
The defense also attacked the credibility of the U.S. government’s cooperating defendant, Jingfan Zhang, who had pleaded guilty to a lesser sentence and is now waiting for an employment authorization.
The defense likewise challenged the testimony of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent Ishra Harahap.
Before the start of the 7:30 a.m. jury trial, certain individuals gathered outside the Horiguchi Building and displayed placards.
They were then told by court security officers that they could continue what they were doing in the parking lot of Kristo Rai Church.
One of the defendants later joined the group and held a placard. The defendant also took pictures of the group.
