YUZHU Zhang, 48, pled not guilty to charges of importation of contraband, trafficking and possession of a controlled substance at an arraignment before Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja on Monday.
The government was represented by Assistant Attorney General Heather Barcinas.
The defendant appeared in the custody of the Department of Corrections and was represented by Assistant Public Defender Vina Seelam. Dennis Tse served as Zhang’s interpreter.
Zhang, through Seelam, waived the reading of the information and of his constitutional rights and entered a plea of not guilty.
Judge Naraja, for his part, reassigned the case to Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, and ordered the parties to return to court for a case management conference on May 18, 2022 at 10 a.m.
Judge Naraja said at the scheduled hearing, the parties should be prepared to advise the court whether the matter will be disposed of by a change of plea, trial, or other disposition.
“The parties should also be prepared to select a trial date for this case,” the judge added.
Zhang is accused of attempting to smuggle 4.9 pounds of methamphetamine from California by mail. The seized methamphetamine contraband has a street value of approximately $700,000, authorities said.
Police also found in Zhang’s vehicle 19 small clear plastic bags containing methamphetamine weighing 26.3 grams, and $4,239 in cash, according to court documents.
Zhang denied owning the mailed parcel and the drugs found in his vehicle, but said the money is his.
Judge Camacho imposed a $1 million cash bail on the defendant.
