Liang Yang
LIANG Yang, who was caught receiving decorative lamps containing liquid methamphetamine, claimed that he was “invited” by Imperial Pacific International to come to Saipan and introduce VIP guests to the games at the IPI casino.
“This indicates defendant’s connection to persons of wealth, and defendant’s own social status amongst IPI VIPs,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Flores in a brief filed in federal court to support a request for Yang’s detention pending trial.
IPI’s casino has been closed since March 2020.
Flores said Yang is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and does not have lawful immigration status in the U.S. or the CNMI.
“Defendant made five separate entries into the CNMI under the tourist Conditional Parole Program, with the last entry being on 1/18/2019, and parole expiring on 1/30/2019. Defendant has overstayed Conditional Parole and lived on Saipan permanently for the last four years and eight months, all without maintaining lawful employment in the CNMI. By his own admission, Defendant traveled to the CNMI to become an investor in a tourist company, which is a clear violation of permitted entry to the CNMI pursuant to the Conditional Parole Program,” Flores said.
“Despite no lawful immigration status, Defendant acquired CNMI driver licenses on at least three occasions, to include at least two licenses from Saipan and one license from Rota. Investigators are aware Defendant makes a living, in part, by providing a shuttle service as a driver for visiting tourists from the airport and other places on Saipan. This shuttle service is provided while Defendant relies upon unlawfully issued driver licenses from the CNMI Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Defendant’s ability to live on Saipan for four years unlawfully, and operate a tourist company unlawfully, is a clear indicator he has the ability and network to remain undetected and avoid encounters with law enforcement,” Flores added.
He said Yang has also acknowledged his relationship to “BT,” a person known to investigators as a notorious drug trafficker on Saipan and Guam.
Yang said he had agreed to receive a package sent by BT to make some money.
According to Flores, an informer, “XG,” told him and Drug Enforcement Agency investigators that Yang “is friends with BT, and that defendant previously lived in a residence owned or leased by BT. XG further explains that a situation when police were actively looking for BT on Saipan affected defendant’s ability to fulfill a debt payment to XG. These facts support defendant’s own claim, that defendant maintains a relationship with BT, a notorious local drug trafficker who remains a fugitive from justice.”
Yang was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
At a detention hearing in federal court on Oct. 17, Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy granted the request of the prosecution and ordered Yang to remain detained pending trial.
After Yang pled not guilty to the allegation against him, Judge Kennedy set his jury trial for Dec. 5, 2023, at 10 a.m.
On Sept. 23, 2023, CNMI Division of Customs and Biosecurity officers seized 10 pounds or 4,535.92 grams of liquid methamphetamine after inspecting two packages that contained four lava lamps each at the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa.
The liquid meth had a street value of over $1.8 million, Customs Director Jose C. Mafnas said.
