Ilayza Sanchez Matagolai is escorted by a Corrections officer to a bail hearing at the local courthouse on Friday morning.
ILAYZA Sanchez Matagolai is accused of smuggling methamphetamine into Corrections where she was to visit an inmate, Frank Pangelinan, on July 17, 2024.
Matagolai, 37, was charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance, trafficking, and promoting major/minor prison contraband.
At a bail hearing on Friday, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $50,000 cash bail on Matagolai and remanded her to the custody of Corrections. She was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on July 16 at 2:30 p.m., and for an arraignment on Aug. 5 at 9 a.m.
She was represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig while Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds appeared for the CNMI government.
According to the complaint against Matagolai, on July 17, Department of Corrections officers found two black Ziploc baggies containing a crystal-like substance on her as she was entering the prison facility to visit an inmate, Frank Pangelinan.
Matagolai was searched by female Corrections officers prior to her entering the visitation area, according to Drug Enforcement Task Force Officer Noel Igisaiar.
There, the officers found in the seam of Matagolai’s pants a piece of envelope with two black Ziploc baggies containing a crystal-like substance, which was field tested and tested positive for meth.
The total weight of the meth was 2.37 grams with an estimated street value of $350-$400, Igisaiar said.
Corrections officers then inquired about Matagolai’s pick-up truck that was still parked on the premises.
Corrections Lt. Lorraine Rios told investigators that Matagolai operates the vehicle whenever she goes to Corrections for visitation and “drop-off days.”
A Department of Public Safety K-9 unit was then called to do a vehicle sweep on Matagolai’s pick-up.
At 7:55 p.m. on the same day, Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio signed a search warrant for Matagolai’s vehicle.
At the DPS impound lot, DETF officers searched the vehicle and found a brown handbag with needles, $20.91 cash, receipts, a Vipertek taser, two iPhones, keys, cut-up straws, a pink case and a black Beats case.
In the pink case, officers found two clear Ziploc baggies containing a crystal-like substance, a mini-scale, multiple black empty Ziploc baggies, a lighter, a cut-up straw with residue, and Matagolai’s firearms ID with court documents.
In the black Beats case, officers found seven Ziploc baggies with a crystal-like substance, empty Ziploc baggies, a lighter, and two used/unused needles.
The crystal-like substance in the pink and black cases tested positive for meth.
The total weight of confiscated meth taken into evidence was 8.55 grams with an estimated street value of $1,000 to $1,350, DETF stated.
According to Variety news files, Matagolai was arrested in April 2020 for illegal possession of a controlled substance — meth.
