THE U.S. Probation Office wants Mingjin Jin to appear before the federal court so he can explain why his probation should not be revoked or modified.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI sentenced Jin last year to one year probation for presenting a fake driver’s license and a fake vehicle registration during a traffic stop in 2019.
Jin was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully produce an identification document.
According to Probation Officer Gregory Arriola, Jin’s term of probation is set to expire on May 27, 2022.
Arriola said he had reminded Jin that he was prohibited from operating a vehicle since he did not have a valid CNMI driver’s license, which Jin acknowledged.
Jin also received instruction from the court to refrain from operating a vehicle because of the nature of his case, Arriola added.
On Feb. 2, 2022, Jin reported to the U.S. Probation Office to submit his monthly supervision report.
He was then observed leaving the federal courthouse and walking toward the Gualo Rai traffic light.
Unknown to Jin, he was followed by the probation officer who said he saw Jin enter the driver’s side door of a silver Toyota Prius parked outside a restaurant. Jin then drove away from the area.
Arriola said he followed the vehicle, which was then parked outside Modern Stationery. Jin exited the vehicle to enter the establishment, Arriola added.
When Jin exited the establishment, Arriola approached the defendant and asked Jin who owned the vehicle that Jin operated. Jin said the vehicle belonged to his friend.
When asked if he possessed a driver’s license, Jin answered in the negative.
The probation officer then asked to see the vehicle registration. Jin handed an envelope, which contained an automobile insurance certificate and a certification from Atkins Kroll (Saipan) indicating that Jin had purchased the vehicle on Jan. 28, 2022.
Jin eventually admitted to the probation officer that he had purchased the vehicle.
Judge Manglona on Wednesday granted the probation officer’s request to summon Jin and she also appointed attorney Steven Pixley to represent the defendant.
A revocation hearing was set for Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m.
Jin, 58, entered the CNMI in 1991 as a garment worker, but lost his immigration status in 2019. His two minor sons were born on Saipan.
