THE District Court for the NMI on Thursday set the sentencing of drug defendant Liang Yang for Jan. 26, 2024, Friday, at 9 a.m.
Yang has pled guilty to Count 1 of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
In his order, Designated Judge Robert C. Naraja also referred the defendant to the U.S. Probation Office for a presentence investigation.
The judge stated that the initial presentence investigation report is due on Dec. 8, 2023. Pursuant to Rule 32(f)(l), within 14 days of receipt of the presentence report, parties must state in writing any objections including objections to material information, sentencing guideline ranges, and policy statements contained in or omitted from the report.
Additionally, the judge said, the final presentence investigation report is due on Jan. 12, 2024 and the parties must file any sentencing memoranda and related materials one week prior to sentencing.
On Thursday, Yang appeared in a change of plea hearing with his counsel, Vincent Seman, and interpreter, Monique Kramer. Representing the federal government were Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albert Flores Jr. and Ashley Kost.
Yang, whose conditional parole expired on Jan. 30, 2019, was arrested over a month ago following the seizure of 10 pounds or 4,535.92 grams of liquid methamphetamine with street value of over $1.8 million by Customs and Biosecurity enforcers. They discovered the illegal drugs in lava lamps while inspecting two packages at the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa on Sept. 23, 2023.
Liang Yang
