MAGISTRATE Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI on Thursday found probable cause to charge Shou Qui, also known as “Ike,” with drug trafficking and firearms possession.
At a preliminary and detention hearing, Judge Kennedy also granted the U.S. government’s request to detain Qui pending trial.
The judge remanded Qui to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and ordered him to return to court for an arraignment on Feb. 1, at 11: a.m.
Qui was represented by attorney Robert T. Torres and co-counsel Charity Hodson. According to court documents, Qui retained the law office of Robert T. Torres to represent him. Chien Li, also known as Tony Yen, serves as the defendant’s interpreter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.
Qui has filed a CJA 23 financial affidavit under seal, asserting “that compelling him to answer certain questions in the CJA 23 form would violate his constitutional right against self-incrimination, which he hereby asserts, as such answers might lead to evidence that the Government would seek to use against him…”
Last week, Judge Kennedy granted Qui’s request to seal his financial affidavit based on his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
On Jan. 12, 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency with the NMI Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant and seized 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine, an undetermined amount of cash, and two handguns with ammunition from Qui in a hotel room where he had been staying for the past six months.
Qui was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Qui, in a freely given statement to the DEA, and through an interpreter, stated that he was mainly supplied by two people who would give him between 100 grams and 500 grams, depending on how his sales had been.
Qui also said “he has more local customers than anyone on island.”
