U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David A. Wiseman said Yin Minghao will be released on his own recognizance and that his status will be re-evaluated by the federal court on Feb. 10.
Wiseman referred Yin to the U.S. Probation Office and said that the pre-sentence investigation report should be due on March 3.
Yin appeared in court with his counsel, Bruce Berline, while the federal government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler.
According to the prosecution, Yin used and delivered People’s Republic of China passport No. G20274978 issued for him to Jiang Zhejun, which is a violation of the U.S. Code.
The passport was issued to the defendant on Aug. 20, 2007 and will expire on Aug. 19, 2017.
On Aug. 16, 2008, local authorities escorted Jiang Zhejun to the Saipan International Airport for deportation. Jiang used the defendant’s passport and posed as Yin.
After checking in at the airport, Jiang evaded his escort, and returned the passport to Yin.
Yin then tried to leave Saipan on the flight that Jiang was supposed to board.
The misuse of passport charge carries a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 and a special assessment fee of $100.
