TWO of three individuals charged with possession and intent to distribute methamphetamine or “ice” pleaded guilty last week in federal court.
District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted the pleas of Jesse Reyes Babauta and Noribel Adao Mendez finding that they are fully competent to enter a knowing, voluntary and intelligent plea.
Babauta, who will be sentenced on May 26 at 9 a.m., was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mendez will be sentenced on May 27 at 9 a.m. She remains released with conditions pending sentencing.
Co-defendant Mary Rose Chelo Herradura pleaded guilty in November to the same charge and is also on pretrial release with conditions. She will be sentenced on May 27 at 1:30 p.m.
According to the indictment, the three defendants, between Sept. 26 and 28, 2020, knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with other persons to possess methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(C). The government also wanted to forfeit any money or property from the offense upon conviction of the defendants.
No other details regarding the case were provided in court documents obtained by Variety.
Attorneys Mark Hanson and Robert T. Torres were appointed to represent Mendez and Herradura, while attorney Colin Thompson was appointed by the court to represent Babauta.
