JEANE Bracken, 24, appeared before Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court of the NMI on Wednesday and pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Her sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Bracken, who is an executive assistant and restaurant manager at Spicy Thai Restaurant, was represented by attorney David Banes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley appeared for the federal government.
Jeane Bracken
On Oct. 21, 2020, court documents stated, a suspicious parcel was mailed to a private CNMI mailbox and identified by law enforcement personnel.
The parcel contained a clear resealable zipper storage plastic bag labeled Walgreens, which had a white, powdery substance inside a vacuum-sealed clear bag labeled FoodSaver and wrapped in a black tank top.
CNMI Customs contacted U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Saipan, which tested the substance and confirmed that it was 4.2 grams of cocaine.
The active ingredient was then removed and replaced with “sham” that looked like cocaine.
After further investigation, authorities identified the intended recipient of the package and organized a controlled delivery of the parcel containing the sham cocaine.
The private mailbox belonged to a friend of the individual identified in court documents as “Suspect 1.”
Suspect 1 retrieved the parcel and left the mail service store in Garapan, with authorities following close behind. They later detained and transported Suspect 1 to the DEA Saipan post of duty.
In a statement to the authorities, Suspect 1 said he had a second mailbox in his own name, and that he had been obtaining something else in the mail.
When asked by authorities to provide more information, Suspect 1 said he had obtained marijuana before, but was unsure what was in the recently arrived parcel, noting that the order was placed in early September or August of this year.
He also mentioned taking other drugs for psychological issues, and said, “She had gotten another box with about a gram of cocaine in it,” referring to Jeane Bracken.
Asked where Bracken had obtained the drugs, Suspect 1 said it was from a “dark web order,” noting that the parcel was sent to his friend’s mailbox because he —Suspect 1 — did not want it linked to his name.
He said before he was detained, he had contacted Bracken to alert her that the parcel containing the parcel had arrived. He said he thought that the parcel contained marijuana because “it was heavy.”
If the parcel contained cocaine, he said, then he had nothing to do with it.
However, after authorities questioned him further and reviewed his mobile device with his signed consent, Suspect 2 admitted that he and Bracken were in fact expecting cocaine in the parcel with intent to distribute.
Suspect 1 said Bracken ordered the drugs and determined how much would be distributed. He said he would typically receive a portion of the shipment or a good price on the cocaine.
Authorities said they found numerous incriminating messages regarding the parcel and several other drug shipments, including drug amounts, drug deliveries, and drug types, specifically mushrooms, cocaine, and lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD.
In one of these messages, Bracken stated, “I can’t believe it came… I’m so proud of myself.”
Suspect 1 said he and Bracken agreed to meet at her place of employment for the delivery of the parcel.
Authorities placed audio and video recording devices in Suspect 1’s vehicle, and a CNMI law enforcement officer rode along with Suspect 1.
Bracken then made contact with Suspect 1 and obtained the package. She was then detained and transferred to the DEA Saipan office.
Bracken initially agreed to answer questions, but then recanted and held off the interview with the authorities until her attorney, Matthew Holley, arrived.
After conferring with his client, Holley told investigators that Bracken would not be answering any question unless there was a reason to do so.
Authorities then explained the events that occurred that day regarding the parcel. Holley stated that his client had not informed him about the parcel or anyone else being arrested.
Holley then turned over Bracken’s passport to the DEA, and Bracken was transported to Kanoa Resort for Covid-19 testing before being transported to the CNMI Department of Corrections.
