HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A former Guam Police Department officer will be sentenced in the U.S. District Court of Guam on Wednesday morning for his involvement in drug trafficking.
Jose Pablo Ananich will appear in court on Wednesday morning to be sentenced for charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, attempted possession of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in commission of a drug trafficking crime.
Ananich, who pleaded guilty to the charges on July 1, 2021, was alleged, along with co-conspirators Andrew Philip Manibusan and James Mafnas, to be involved in mailing methamphetamine from Antioch, California, to Guam between January 2020 and June 1, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, Manibusan, who was in Antioch, California, communicated with Ananich about sending the drugs to a Yona residence or the Barrigada post office. When the packages arrived, they would be received by another individual and given to Ananich, who also recruited Mafnas to obtain money orders and cashier’s checks that were made payable to Manibusan to pay for the methamphetamine, documents stated.
“Once the methamphetamine arrived on Guam, Jose Pablo Ananich received the package containing methamphetamine and then distributed the methamphetamine, garnering proceeds,” the plea agreement stated, adding Ananich and Manibusan “planned to and used the illegal proceeds” to start a larger methamphetamine distribution enterprise on Guam.
On June 1, 2021, an 8-pound package of methamphetamine arrived to Guam after being sent by Manibusan. Federal authorities intercepted it, replaced the drugs with a sham and placed clue spray and a breaching device inside the package. The package was then tracked to Ananich’s Yigo residence, where they found a total of 46 pounds of meth in Ananich’s truck and on his property.
According to court documents, Ananich was seen to have been burning 13 pounds of the meth found in his possession, and found with the clue spray on his hands
Along with the drugs, Ananich had $146,728 in cash, which was determined to be proceeds from selling methamphetamine. Once arrested, Ananich also was found to have a methamphetamine pipe, six firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Three of the weapons were with Ananich as he drove to pick up the 8 pounds of meth, documents state.
Recommendations
Ananich faces a maximum of 25 years in federal prison for his charges, however the United States Attorney’s office stated in its sentencing memorandum that it will be requesting Ananich serve 22 years and six months.
Federal prosecutors argue Ananich was a “key player in a scheme involving the mailing of significant quantities of methamphetamine to Guam,” despite being not only a former GPD officer but also a Department of Corrections officer.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office further argued that the sentence would reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the offense and deter future criminal conduct from both Ananich and the community.
Ananich’s attorney, Joaquin “Jay” Arriola Jr., however, recommended that Ananich should be sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
According to Arriola’s sentencing memorandum, Ananich did not have an “aggravating role” in the conspiracy, which was indicated in Ananich’s pre-sentence report. The “aggravating role” enhancement is for individuals who are “a leader, organizer, manager (or) supervisor in any criminal activity considered to be extensive.”
Arriola stated there was “not much extensive in this conspiracy,” before also stating Ananich’s acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with law enforcement should warrant a shorter sentence.
Arriola said Ananich complied with the terms of his plea agreement and conditions of release and “provided timely, useful, truthful information, exposing himself and his family to real and significant danger.” Additionally, Arriola cited that two weeks after being indicted, Ananich pleaded guilty to the charges and Ananich’s cooperation resulted in the arrest of Manibusan in California.
According to Post files, Manibusan was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, while Mafnas was sentenced to 10 years in September 2022.
The District Court of Guam is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Hagåtña.
