Two defendants convicted for their parts in trying to smuggle multiple chinese nationals from Saipan to Guam by boat are fighting their fates in the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands.  

Earlier this month, a federal jury found defendants Hongjiang Yang and Meifang Weng guilty of conspiracy to transport aliens and aiding and abetting the transportation of aliens.

Co-defendant Xiulan Huang was acquitted after the jury found her not guilty.

Defense for Yang and Weng are asking the court for an acquittal to overturn their convictions arguing prosecutors lacked evidence that proves they tried to smuggle anyone other than themselves.

Court documents state the eight Chinese nationals tried to unlawfully enter Guam in hopes to live and work on the island in July 2023.