Reyes and Sheng Lian yesterday entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Designated Judge David A. Wiseman set the sentencing hearing for Jan. 27, 2010.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Benedetto represented the federal government in the two drug cases, while Robert Torres served as the counsel of Reyes and Lian.
Asked for comment, Press Secretary Charles Reyes P. Reyes Jr., in an e-mail, said: “The governor’s sentiment regarding this unfortunate development has not changed with the plea. Once again, the governor laments this unfortunate development and fully respects the U.S. criminal justice system.”
He said the governor “regrets…that the [Drug Enforcement Administration] did not inform him of the situation so that he would have had the opportunity to take appropriate steps to protect his security and his office.”
On Sept. 24, Peter Reyes surrendered to authorities after the U.S. government charged him with “ice” trafficking.
The prosecution said Peter Reyes used the governor’s vehicle in a drug transaction and sold the controlled substance just outside the administration building, which was near a baseball field on March 16, 2009.
Peter Reyes, who was under house arrest, was accompanied by his family and relatives during yesterday’s hearing.
Lian arrived in shackles and was under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Lian’s family was also present.
Wiseman reminded Peter Reyes and Lian that the court may receive recommendations for their sentences, but the court may reject them without permitting the defendants to withdraw their guilty plea.
Wiseman said the court can impose a sentence more severe than what the defendants anticipated.
Asked about his health, Peter Reyes told the court that he was under medication for his hypertension and heart condition.
He said his medication was not affecting his understanding of the proceeding and the contents of the plea agreement.
He said he had read the copy of the indictment, and was satisfied with the advice of attorney Torres.
He added that he understood the consequences of a guilty plea and conviction.
Wiseman then informed Peter Reyes that parole has been abolished in the U.S. penal system and he has to serve his imprisonment after sentencing.
When asked by Wiseman if the plea agreement was voluntary and not a result of any force, threats or promises apart from the agreement, Reyes responded in the affirmative.
Benedetto told the court that Reyes sold methamphetamine to a cooperating source on March 16, 2009 in the parking lot near the administration building on Capital Hill.
“Yes,” an emotional Reyes replied, when asked by Wiseman if Benedetto’s statement was true.
Lian, who was assisted by an interpreter, told the court he was pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance weighing 947 grams and worth $473,000 to two undercover agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the DEA.
Lian and Biao Huang were arrested in August after they tried to sell “ice” in a hotel room in Susupe to federal agents.
Two others, Ya Bin Huang and Chun Mei Lin, were later arrested as accomplices of Lian and Biao Huang.
