DONGLIN Xu pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens on Tuesday.
Represented by attorney Colin Thompson, Xu appeared before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Kost, the prosecutor, informed the court that she will file a preliminary order of forfeiture before sentencing.
Judge Kennedy said she will recommend the acceptance of the defendant’s guilty plea and will file a written finding and recommendation for the District Court judge’s consideration.
Previously, Xu with co-defendant Qingjiang Li opted to go to trial.
Today, Thursday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m., Li is scheduled to plead guilty to the charge of entering Guam illegally by boat.
Their 12 other co-defendants have separately pled guilty to “engaging in a conspiracy [to transport, move, or attempt to transport or move] an alien within the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the alien came to, entered, and remained in the United States in violation of law.” They have all been sentenced to time served by Senior Judge Alex R. Munson.
These defendants — Fuquan Miao, Chen Qin, Hongmei Din, Qinjiang Li, Ziyou Xu, Huipin Shanguan, Xiping Gao, Rui Wang, Yuxing Lin, Xu Lu, Xiangke Zhang and Bin Wang — were also required to each pay a $100 special assessment fee. In addition, their passports shall be given to Immigration Customs Enforcement by the U.S. Probation Office. Once they are prepared to depart the CNMI, they are to contact the U.S. Probation Office or Immigration Customs Enforcement to deliver their passport to the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
On Sept. 13, 2023, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations arrested the 14 Chinese nationals after they paid an undercover agent, who was posing as a boat captain, to transport them to Guam illegally.
It was Xu who told the undercover agent that he was looking for a boat captain on Saipan willing to be paid to take approximately nine people to Guam.
According to Special Agent Meilani L. Quintanilla’s complaint and affidavit filed in federal court, 11 of the 14 entered the CNMI at various times and all have overstayed their legal status in the U.S.
