JIAN Feng Li, who is also accused of illegally piloting a boat to Guam, appeared on Friday before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy in the District Court for the NMI on the charge of conspiracy to unlawfully produce an identification document.
According to a recently unsealed court document, Li “knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with another person to commit an offense against the United States: specifically, to knowingly and without lawful authority produce an identification document, authentication feature, and false identification document, and the prohibited production, transfer, possession, or use was in or affected interstate or foreign commerce, including the transfer of a document by electronic means, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028(a)(1), (b)(l)(A)(ii), (c)(3)(A) & (f).”
The indictment dated Jan. 4, 2023, did not provide additional information about the alleged violation.
At the hearing, Li was represented by attorney David Banes. An interpreter was also provided for the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Flores Jr. appeared for the federal government.
Banes informed the court that the defense was not prepared to proceed to arraignment and requested for more time.
Flores, for his part, filed a motion for order of detention pending trial.
Judge Kennedy scheduled an arraignment and detention hearing for Friday, Feb. 2, 2023, at 3 p.m.
In August 2022, Li was arrested and charged on Guam for failure to acquire clearance requirements, failure to deliver a manifest to a customs officer, and invalid place of unloading after arriving on the island in a boat with other individuals from the CNMI.
On Jan. 12, 2023, federal prosecutors petitioned the District Court of Guam to remove Li and transport him to the CNMI.
Jian Feng Li
