CHIEF Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI has sentenced Elaine Francisco Demei to five months’ imprisonment for picking up at the post office in San Vicente a package that contained methamphetamine or “ice” sent from California.
Demei will also serve five months in home detention and be placed on three years of supervised release.
Judge Manglona likewise ordered Demei to perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $100 assessment fee.
Demei and co-defendants Vince Koki Leon Guerrero and Evelyn Chong Tydingco admitted to picking up from the post office a package containing over 110 grams of methamphetamine.
Leon Guerrero and Tydingco were each sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. They will be placed on five years’ supervised release after serving their sentence.
In addition, the court required them to pay a fine of over $30,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe represented the federal government while attorney Mark Hanson represented Demei. Attorney Steven Pixley represented Leon Guerrero, and attorney Robert T. Torres represented Tydingco.
According to the factual basis for the plea, between Feb. 15 and 21, 2018, Leon Guerrero conspired with Tydingco and Demei to possess over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it to others on Saipan.
The package containing methamphetamine was sent from California and was addressed to “Debbie Lee.”
On Feb. 21, 2018, upon arrival of the package, the three defendants picked up the parcel at the post office in San Vicente.
The methamphetamine in the package had a net weight of 110.03 grams and an approximate purity level of 100%.
The indictment was initially filed under seal on Aug. 1, 2019.
