A GRAND jury has indicted eight Chinese nationals accused of illegally entering Guam by boat.
Sun Xiaojuan, Jin Suling, Liu Shougao, Ma Wenliang, Zhang Liangxian, Zhang Weifu, Zhu Xiaohui and Gao Bingxing were charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.
According to the indictment, on or about July 29, 2022, “defendants pooled money together to purchase a boat for $32,000 on the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The boat, which is approximately 26 feet in length with a white fiberglass hull and motorized propeller, with CNMI boat registration number CM 0057 CP, was used by the eight defendants, and one additional Chinese citizen who did not have lawful immigration status, to complete transportation from the CNMI to Guam on or about July 31, 2022. A boat was used for transportation because the Chinese citizens wanted to avoid immigration processes that were anticipated if travel was completed by commercial airplane. Authorities located the boat in the Hagåtña Boat Basin in Guam after it came ashore to Guam from the CNMI with all nine Chinese citizens on July 31, 2022.”
If they are convicted, the federal government wants the defendants to “forfeit any conveyance used to carry out the offense they are being charged for, including any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft used in the commission of the offense of which the defendants are convicted; and any property real or personal — that constitutes, or is derived from or is traceable to proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from the commission of the offense of which the defendants are convicted; or that is used to facilitate, or is intended to be used to facilitate, the commission of the offense of which the defendants are convicted.”
The indictment did not identify the ninth Chinese national.
A warrant of arrest was executed against Sun Xiaojuan, Zhang Liangxian, Jin Suling, Zhang Weifu, and Zeng Guosheng on Oct. 18 while Gao Bingxing, Lu Haiyan, and Fu Li were arrested on Oct. 19.
At an arraignment before District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona on Thursday, Sun Xiaojuan, Jin Suling, Zhang Weifu, Gao Bingxing and Zeng Guosheng, through their respective court-appointed attorneys, entered a not guilty plea to the charge.
The arraignment for Lu Haiyan was continued to Nov. 7, at 1:30 p.m.
Judge Manglona set the jury trial for the five defendants for Jan. 10, 2023 at 10 a.m.
The judge also scheduled a detention hearing for Sun Xiajuan, Jin Suling, Gao Bingxing and Zeng Guosheng for Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
A detention hearing for Zhang Weifu was scheduled for Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
As of press time Thursday evening, there was no information regarding Zhang Liangxin and Fu Li.
