ELAINE Francisco Demei will appear before Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the NMI District Court this Friday at 9 a.m. for a sentencing hearing.
Elaine Demei
Demei admitted to picking up with co-defendants Vince Koki Leon Guerrero and Evelyn Chong Tydingco at the post office a package that contains methamphetamine or “ice” sent from California.
The package was addressed to “Debbie Lee,” a false identity, and was sent to the post office in San Vicente where the defendants picked it up.
It contained a net weight of 110.03 grams of methamphetamine with an approximate purity level of 100%.
In separate court hearings, the three defendants pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute over 50 grams of “ice.”
The judge allowed the defendants to remain on release with conditions.
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.
Demei was called to the stand to testify during the trial of her co-defendants.
She said she and Tydingco arranged for the package to be shipped to Demei’s private mailbox under a false identity, adding that Tydingco was hesitant to use her own private mailbox because her family members could easily access it and obtain the package.
The two constantly checked the post office in anticipation of the package arrival.
After several visits, Demei gave her contact information to the post office so that she would be contacted once the package arrived.
Demei later received a call from the post office. She then informed Tydingco who, in turn, informed Leon Guerrero.
The three went to the post office to pick up the package, but argued who among them would go inside.
Eventually, they decided that Demei should pick up the package because it was to her private mailbox that the package was sent.
After picking up the package, Demei handed it to Tydingco and Leon Guerrero who opened the package, setting off a tracking device.
While driving, Demei said that she noticed a car had been tailing them, so she proceeded to make random turns.
She said Tydingco requested that she stop the vehicle at the nearest trash can, but they were pulled over by authorities, placed into custody, and questioned.
Demei later said that after reviewing Tydingco’s sworn statement, she found it to be entirely untruthful and “ridiculous.”
After reviewing the evidence presented by the federal government, including incriminating WhatsApp messages between the defendants, Judge Manglona found Demei’s testimony to be in line with the evidence and therefore truthful.
The judge said there was overwhelming evidence to indicate that Tydingco was, in fact, the organizer.
On Dec. 7, 2020, Leon Guerrero and Tydingco were sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
