The United States Courthouse in Gualo Rai, Saipan.
ZHONGLI Pang has been sentenced by the federal court to three months of imprisonment for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and conspiracy to defraud the United States. He was also given credit for 61 days of time served.
Last month, Pang admitted to purchasing a boat to transport illegal aliens from the CNMI to Guam.
District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona said Pang’s prison sentence will be followed by a one-year supervised release.
As part of Pang’s special conditions of release, in lieu of a fine, he must perform 50 hours of community service and pay a special assessment fee of $200 immediately after sentencing.
At the sentencing hearing, the defendant was represented by attorney Robert T. Torres while Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley appeared for the federal government.
O’Malley moved to dismiss the aiding and abetting charge, which the court granted.
Torres will remain as Pang’s attorney if he decides to appeal.
Pang was arrested in Guam on Jan. 27, 2025.
According to the plea agreement, which Pang signed, “In or about June 2024, on Saipan…defendant conspired, confederated and agreed with at least one other person to transport Liyan Ma, Jianging Li, Miao Miao Yu, Xiaoling Huang Dongmei Shao, Qingqun Wang, Daihong Wang, Li Li, Xiufen You, Xiaoping Gan Hui Zhao, and Qinglei Cheng by boat from…Saipan…to…Guam, knowing that the purpose and intent was to avoid detection by immigration inspectors and to enter the Territory of Guam at a location other than a designated point of entry.”
The plea agreement stated that Pang and several others “bought a boat for $33,000 and registered it in defendant’s name for the purpose of transporting…citizens of [the People’s Republic of China who] were in the United States without valid or current immigration status.”
Pang was initially charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting the transportation of illegal aliens, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and making a false statement.
