BUREAU of Motor Vehicles Director Juana Cabrera Leon Guerrero on Monday pled not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to unlawfully produce an identification document.
Leon Guerrero appeared out of custody before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI, and was represented by court-appointed attorney Robert T. Torres who waived the reading of the charge against her and the reading of her rights.
Torres also told the court that the defendant would surrender her passport to the court.
Judge Kennedy accepted Leon Guerrero’s plea of not guilty and set the jury trial for May 25 at 10 a.m.
Judge Kennedy also held a side bar discussion with Leon Guerrero and her attorney regarding the financial affidavit that she submitted to the court.
After the discussion, Judge Kennedy found that Leon Guerrero is not eligible for a court-appointed counsel and ordered the defendant to reimburse the court in the amount of $150 before the end of the month.
Leon Guerrero is on administrative leave and still getting paid.
The judge also scheduled a status conference hearing for April 3 at 10 a.m. which will be vacated once an attorney enters an appearance on behalf of Leon Guerrero.
The defendant was released on her own personal recognizance.
On March 16, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Leon Guerrero on the charge of conspiracy to unlawfully produce an identification document. Yong De Li, also known as “Ivan,” was named as her co-defendant.
According to the indictment, “between on or about September 1, 2021, through on or about October 31, 2022, defendant Juana Cabrera Leon Guerrero, and defendant Yong De Li, A/K/A ‘Ivan,’ knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with each other, and other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit an offense against the United States: specifically, to knowingly and without lawful authority produce an identification document, authentication feature, and false identification document, to wit. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands driver licenses, and the prohibited production, transfer, possession, and use was in or affected interstate and foreign commerce, including the transfer of a document by electronic means, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 10 Sections 1028(a)(1), (b)(l)(A)(ii), (c)(3)(A) & (f).”
Li is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on March 27 at 1:30 p.m. Attorney Janet King was appointed to represent Li.
The United States Courthouse in Gualo Rai, Saipan.
