By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
DONG Han and Yinhua “Auntie” Yang, charged with selling methamphetamine near a school, were each sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Han and Yang were arrested on July 1, 2025, during a Homeland Security Investigations task force raid at Smile Massage and Bar in Garapan. The business is within walking distance of Garapan Elementary School, where the drug activity occurred.
Han pleaded guilty on Aug. 18, 2025, and Yang on Sept. 9, 2025. Both admitted to conspiracy to possess more than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Their indictment also includes forfeiture allegations.
At the March 26 sentencing, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Han to 36 months in prison, with credit for time served, followed by one year of supervised release. Yang received the same sentence. Both defendants must also complete 50 hours of community service and pay a $100 special assessment.
Regarding forfeiture, Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley told the court that no final order has been requested. He also noted both defendants’ Chinese passports remain in Homeland Security Investigations’ custody.
Han was represented by attorney Steven Pixley, and Yang by attorney Mark Scoggins. Task force officer Paul Anthony Quizon testified for the federal government.
After the hearing, both defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Earlier, the prosecution said that Han was a lawful permanent resident and that the U.S. government intended to revoke his green card.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
