By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
FOLLOWING the dismissal of his assault and kidnapping case in Superior Court, Yichuan Bai, 40, now faces federal charges for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI granted Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe’s request for a writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum, ordering Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations to produce Bai, who is currently in ICE custody, for a hearing on Friday, March 20, 2026.
A federal grand jury indicted Bai on two counts:
1) Unlawful possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, and
2) Unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
The prosecution also filed a notice of forfeiture seeking the recovery of 15 rounds of Sellier & Bellot 9x19mm ammunition.
At his initial appearance, Bai — assisted by an interpreter, and represented by court‑appointed attorney Mark Scoggins — waived the reading of the charges and his rights, and entered a not‑guilty plea. Judge Manglona set a jury trial for May 27 at 10 a.m.
The judge also granted the prosecution’s motion for detention and remanded Bai to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Recently, the Superior Court granted the Office of the Attorney General’s request to dismiss with prejudice the assault case against Peter Deleon Guerrero, 58, and Bai. They were two of three defendants accused in connection with an Aug. 25, 2025, incident in Chinatown in which prosecutors alleged a tour guide was lured under false pretenses, kidnapped, and assaulted. The third defendant, Hee Jung Hwang, has since been removed from the CNMI by ICE.
The defendants were later linked to additional offenses after a search of Hwang’s residence uncovered a stolen firearm, ammunition, and controlled substances.
The victim, tour guide Jijing “Jimmy” Borja, has also been ordered removed from the CNMI. Honolulu Immigration Judge Clarence Wagner issued the removal order last month, citing Borja’s prior criminal convictions and non‑U.S. citizen status. His immigration case is separate from the CNMI criminal proceedings.
Earlier, the parties filed a stipulation requesting that Bai be released from the Department of Corrections and transferred to the custody of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for removal proceedings.
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.
