Designated Judge David Wiseman sentenced Jingfan Zhang after hearing the oral arguments of court-appointed attorney Steven Pixley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler, who prosecuted the case.
Zhang, currently out on bail, was also directed to pay a $10 fine after sentencing. He will obey CNMI and federal laws, and not possess or use controlled substances.
An interpreter assisted Zhang in the change of plea and sentencing hearing.
Wiseman also granted the U.S. government’s motion to dismiss the other charges of conspiracy to commit offenses and to defraud the United States, and attempted improper entry by an alien.
On Jan. 30, 2010, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrested Jingfan Zhang, together with Shixu Huang, male, Lihua Yi, female, Pingping Zhang, female, and Zhanshan Zhang, male, on rubber boats en route to Guam from Rota.
They denied the charges against them and are currently out on bail.
Their jury trial starts on June 1, 2010.
