U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson said Li Zong Guo will spend two years in federal prison for three of the eight counts charged against him. His sentence will be served concurrently with credit for the time served.
Upon his release, Li will be placed on six years of supervised release for three counts of the charges, to run concurrently with several conditions.
Li appeared with his court-appointed counsel, G. Anthony Long, while Assistant U.S. attorney Erick O’Malley appeared on behalf of the federal government.
The federal government wants the defendant to be sentenced to 27-month imprisonment while the defense asked for a sentence of one year and one day.
Li was charged with eight counts of criminal offenses for ice possession and distribution.
He was charged with conspiracy to distribute ice on Nov. 7, 2007; distribution and possession with intent to distribute ice on Oct. 25 and 26, 2007; distribution of a controlled substance near a school on Oct. 26, 2007; distribution and possession with intent to distribute ice on Oct. 30, 2007; distribution of a controlled substance near a school on Oct. 30, 2007; possession with intent to distribute ice on Nov. 7, 2007; and attempted distribution of a controlled substance near a school on Nov. 7, 2007.
Li was arrested on Nov. 7, 2007 after a buy bust operation near Saipan Southern High School.
In an affidavit, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Daniel G. Holcomb said they traced Li after they arrested one individual for possession of a controlled substance.
The individual told Holcomb that he purchased ice from Li on several occasions.
Authorities cornered Li’s car after conducting several surveillance operations. Li sold $250 worth of ice to a confidential source on Nov. 7.
Holcomb said Li tried to elude arrest, driving head on at the vehicle operated by Sgt. Paul Ogumoro.
According to the federal agent, Li led the surveillance officers on a pursuit through Koblerville, throwing three packages of crushed, glass-like substances out the window of his car while driving down Adobo Road. All the packages were recovered by the surveillance officers.
Holcomb said Li was driving in excess of the speed limit as the surveillance officers pursued him, driving in both travel lanes.
Li jumped out of his car at the end of a road in Koblerville and headed toward the jungle. The pursuit continued on foot and the officers eventually caught and handcuffed him, Holcomb said.
