By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has sentenced four men for conspiring to transport undocumented migrants from Saipan to Guam by boat.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona last week sentenced William J. Cabrera, 44, to 21 months in prison, with one day credited for time served. After completing his sentence, Cabrera will serve three years of supervised release and perform 100 hours of community service.
Steven Villagomez Pangelinan, 58, received a 30-month prison term, with 144 days credited for time served. He will also serve two years of supervised release and complete 100 hours of community service.
Steven Tomokane, 55, was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service.
Kenneth H. Pangelinan, 39, was sentenced to time served and will be placed under three years of supervised release, with 100 hours of community service.
All four defendants were ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee immediately after sentencing. Each had previously pleaded guilty: Cabrera on Oct. 1, 2024; Tomokane on Sept. 10, 2024; Steven Pangelinan on Jan. 1, 2025; and Kenneth Pangelinan on Feb. 19, 2025.
According to the indictment, 21 migrants from China paid $4,500 each to be smuggled from Saipan to Guam. Two boats were used for the 12-hour, 100-nautical-mile journey, which began at night. Upon arrival at Ritidian Point on Guam’s north shore, the boats pulled up to the reef line, allowing passengers to jump into the water and wade ashore before the vessels returned to the CNMI.
The first boat, a 25-foot 1981 Boston Whaler Frontier, was operated by Cabrera and Kevin Pangelinan. The second, an 18-foot 1996 McKee Craft Pulse 1800, was operated by Steven Pangelinan and Tomokane.
“The defendants facilitated illegal migration and risked the lives of many for their own financial gain,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the NMI Shawn N. Anderson in a media release Friday. “Their conduct was part of a concerning trend involving the abuse of the CNMI visa waiver program, among other provisions of our immigration laws. We will combat this activity at every opportunity. I applaud the work of Guam and CNMI law enforcement in support of federal immigration enforcement.”
“This sentencing underscores Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit while undermining the integrity of our immigration system,” said Lucia Cabral-DeArmas, HSI Honolulu. “The defendants in this case endangered lives and violated the law in their attempt to smuggle individuals into Guam. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our borders and hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the CNMI Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr. prosecuted the case in the District of the NMI.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
