FORMER Bureau of Motor Vehicles Director Juana Cabrera Leon Guerrero is no longer a Department of Public Safety employee.
Leon Guerrero appeared out of custody before Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI on Monday morning for a status conference hearing without an attorney.
She told the court that she is no longer employed at DPS and is unable to afford retained counsel.
Judge Manglona encouraged Leon Guerrero to pursue an attorney to represent her and update the financial record she has on file with the court, and her financial affidavit with the assistance of the U.S. Probation Office.
The judge likewise ordered the federal government, represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Kost, and Albert Flores Jr., to tender discovery to the defendant.
Judge Manglona scheduled another status conference for April 19 at 1 p.m.
She said if Leon Guerrero retains counsel, counsel is to file a notice of appearance and the status conference will be vacated.
Attorney Robert T. Torres was previously appointed by the court as defense counsel, but the court then found that Leon Guerrero was ineligible for court-appointed counsel.
On March 16, 2023, a 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’s 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, Sections 1028(a)(1), (b)(l)(A)(ii), (c)(3)(A) & (f).”
Leon Guerrero pled not guilty to the charge. Her jury trial is scheduled for May 25 at 10 a.m.
Her co-defendant, Yongde Li, through attorney Janet King, also pled not guilty to the charge at an arraignment on March 27.
The federal court has scheduled Li’s jury trial for May 23 at 10 a.m.
Both defendants have been released on their own recognizance.
