Federal inmate Bing Li has filed a motion in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands seeking compensatory damages for personal property allegedly lost or destroyed while in the custody of the CNMI Department of Corrections.
“Li, a Chinese national representing himself, claims CNMI DOC officials seized and never returned a family heirloom necklace, a photograph of his wife, and legal documents.”
In his motion, filed under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g), Li argues that the government acknowledged the items were either lost or disposed of, but failed to notify his designated contact or provide a translator to assist with the recovery process.
“Court filings show Li left instructions—including his wife’s name and contact number in English and Chinese—for the return of his belongings.”
He asserts that his wife was never contacted and that a corrections officer had indicated the items would be held for him throughout his incarceration.
“No one articulated to defendant that property left unclaimed would be disposed of,” the motion states, adding that Li requested the return of his property upon transfer from CNMI DOC custody but was denied without explanation.
Li, who speaks limited English, said that the language barrier contributed to the mishandling of his property and that no steps were taken to provide translation assistance. He is seeking $2,500 for the heirloom necklace, $50 for the photograph, and $50 for the legal documents.
Li was sentenced in 2023 to 51 months in prison for receiving 1,084 grams (2.13 pounds) of methamphetamine by mail. He pleaded guilty on March 17, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a previous response to Li’s request, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands stated that the items were discarded under CNMI DOC procedures.
The court has not yet ruled on the motion.
