Attorney Janet King with client Ramon Jose Quitano Sablan.
YAN Juan Hu Taitano, Ramon Jose Quitano Sablan, Lee Omar Reyes and Maverick Iguel Marlik were sentenced on Monday by the federal court for orchestrating a plan to illegally transport nine Chinese nationals by boat from Saipan to Guam.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI sentenced Taitano to 15 months’ imprisonment with credit for time served followed by one year of supervised release.
In lieu of a fine, Taitano must perform 80 hours of community service, which shall be suspended if he is gainfully employed, the judge said. She also ordered the defendant to pay a special assessment fee of $100 immediately after sentencing.
Judge Manglona ordered Taitano to self-surrender on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.
Taitano was represented by attorney Robert T. Torres.
Marlik was sentenced to time served and one-year supervised release. He was also ordered to perform 80 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, which can be suspended if he is gainfully employed. In addition, Marlik was ordered to pay a $100 assessment fee by Sept. 13.
Marlik was represented by attorney Bruce Berline.
Sablan was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release. He will perform 80 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, which shall be suspended if he is gainfully employed. He was also ordered to pay a $100 assessment fee by Sept. 13.
Sablan was represented by attorney Janet King.
Reyes, represented by attorney Mark Scoggins, was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release.
Reyes will perform 80 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, which shall be suspended if he is gainfully employed. He shall pay a special assessment fee of $100 no later than Sept. 13.
Judge Manglona also imposed a no-contact order between Taitano and Sablan.
The federal government was represented by U.S. Assistant Attorney Eric O’ Malley.
Background
According to the indictment, “Beginning in or about June 2023, Yan Juan Hu Taitano and Lee Jesse Omar Reyes orchestrated a plan to transport a group of nine Chinese nationals, all of whom are unindicted co-conspirators, from the District of the Northern Mariana Islands with the intent to unlawfully enter and reside in the Territory of Guam, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that the Chinese nationals had no right or authority to enter Guam.”
In furtherance of the plan, Taitano and Reyes hired Ramon Jose Quitano Sablan and Maverick Ryan Iguel Marlik to drive a small motorboat from Smiling Cove Marina, Saipan to Guam, on or about July 9, 2023, “for the purpose of transporting and moving the Chinese nationals in furtherance of a violation of law,” the indictment stated.
The Chinese nationals agreed to pay Taitano and Reyes up to $5,000 per individual to be transported from Saipan to Guam.
The Chinese nationals met Taitano and Reyes “on at least two occasions to make down payments, part of which … Taitano and Reyes used to purchase the motorboat that was to be used for the trip,” the indictment stated.
On or about July 9, 2023, “defendants arranged for the 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 continued.
