The United States Courthouse in Gualo Rai, Saipan.
BOAT Captain Ramon Jose Quitano Sablan and his crewmember, Maverick Ryan Iguel Marlik, on Wednesday pled not guilty to the charge of transporting Chinese nationals by boat illegally to Guam.
Sablan, represented by attorney Janet King, and Marlik, represented by attorney Bruce Berline, also waived the reading of their rights.
Presiding over the initial appearance hearing and arraignment, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI accepted the not-guilty pleas and scheduled a jury trial for April 2 at 10 a.m.
Both defendants were released on a $1,000 unsecured bond and were ordered to abide by the terms and conditions of release.
Their co-defendants, Yan Juan Hu Taitano and Lee Jesse Omar Reyes, through their respective court-appointed attorneys, also pled not guilty to the allegations against them. Their jury trial will also start April 2.
Taitano and Reyes were likewise released under their own recognizance.
At the hearing, U.S. Probation Officer Greg Arriola informed the court that Taitano and Sablan are in a relationship.
This prompted the judge to amend Taitano’s order, which set conditions regarding contact with Sablan.
The four defendants were charged with conspiracy to transport nine illegal aliens to Guam.
According to the indictment, the illegal aliens, who are Chinese nationals, agreed to pay Taitano and Reyes up to $5,000 per individual to be transported from Saipan to Guam.
On or about July 9, 2023, “defendants arranged for [a] boat to pick up the Chinese nationals at Smiling Cove Marina with the goal of transporting the Chinese nationals to Guam. Reyes agreed to pay Sablan to drive the boat and Marlik to provide assistance, including to refuel the boat en route. The boat departed Smiling Cove Marina at approximately 9 p.m. with Sablan and Marlik as well as the nine Chinese national passengers on board,” the indictment stated.
“The boat proceeded south toward the Territory of Guam. The boat ran out of fuel and began to drift just before it reached the island of Rota, thus necessitating a rescue operation by the United States Coast Guard,” the indictment added.
According to the indictment, the illegal aliens were Li Xiaohua, Dong Changcai, Huang Xiulan, Yang Hongjiang, Weng Meifang, Wu Yingchun, Gao Kun, Tang Yongbing and Li Kun.
