TWO men are facing federal charges for obstructing their deportation from the CNMI.
Aimin Zhang and Jianbing Zhao were indicted on the charge of preventing or hampering removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1253(a)(1)(C). Zhang was also indicted for resisting a federal officer.
According to the indictment against Zhang, “On or about April 30, 2025, in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands, Defendant Aimin Zhang, an alien against whom a final order of removal was outstanding, by reason of being a member of any of the classes described in Title 8, United Stales Code, Section 1227(a), did take action designed to prevent and hamper, and with the purpose of preventing and hampering, his departure from the United States.”
In addition, on or about April 30, 2025, Zhang “did forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with persons designated in 18 U.S.C. § 1114, to wit: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers C.S.D. and S.T.W., while such persons were engaged in the performance of official duties.”
According to the indictment against Zhao, “On or about May 26, 2025, in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands, Defendant Jianbing Zhao, an alien against whom a final order of removal was outstanding, by reason of being a member of any of the classes described in Title 8, United States Code, Section 1227(a), did take action designed to prevent and hamper, and with the purpose of preventing and hampering, his departure from the United States.”
Both men are in the custody of ICE-ERO and have been summoned to appear in court on June 12.
Aimin Zhang, an illegal alien previously convicted on Saipan for conspiracy to enter Guam illegally by boat, was arrested on Guam on Dec. 11, 2024, for violating his release conditions.
On Sept. 26, 2024, Zhang was convicted of “Count 1: Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(l)(A)(v)(I) and Count 2: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371,” and was sentenced to time served and three-year supervised release.
On Oct. 23, 2024, an amended petition for warrant or summons for offenders under supervision was filed against Zhang. On the same day, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the federal court.
On Dec. 11, 2024, he was arrested on Guam, but court documents did not indicate how he ended up there.
In January 2025, Zhang was sentenced to three months imprisonment with credit for time served of 34 days.
He then appealed his sentence, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appels dismissed it in April 2025.
As for Jianbing Zhao, there was no additional information regarding him or his case as of press time Tuesday afternoon.
