U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson yesterday ordered 24-year old Dominic D. Chipwelong to concurrently serve the jail term for two counts of theft, and jointly pay restitution of $35,490.40 with his co-defendant, James Ochcha, immediately after the sentencing. Chipwelong must also pay $200 in special assessment fee.
Chipwelong appeared in court for the sentencing with his counsel, George Hasselback. The federal government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly McCalum.
After serving his jail sentence, Chipwelong will be placed on supervised release for three years.
He is prohibited from committing any local or federal offenses while under supervised release.
He will comply with court conditions, refrain from taking alcohol, must not possess firearms, submit to a collection of DNA sample, and seek employment.
He is also to render 100 hours of community work service.
Chipwelong was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service after yesterday’s hearing.
Chipwelong was indicted on the charge of conspiring with Ochcha and Masaoishy Daikichi Sallem in stealing and selling metal lighting units with an estimated value of more than $1,000 from American Memorial Park in November last year.
The defendants were charged for conspiracy to sell government property and theft of government property.
Chipwelong was released on June 2, 2008 under several conditions after posting $5,000 in unsecured bond.
Chipwelong admitted earlier of smoking marijuana inside the restroom of the Department of Corrections last May.
Chipwelong tested positive for marijuana use on June 13, 18, 19 and 20.
