Multiple illegal entry cases revealed in federal court

Seven Chinese nationals who were caught sneaking onto Guam's shores this year are expected to go back to Saipan after admitting to their roles in the scheme. 

Court documents filed in the District Court of Guam this week state defendants paid for the boat voyage from Saipan to Guam. 

Defendant Wei Meng paid $10,000.

Defendant Zhenhua Xu paid $20,000 and defendant Aimin Zhang paid $10,000

The person who got the money was apparently never indicted. The scheme unfolded in the CNMI back in August. 

Co-actors Qihua Zheng, Hailong Zhu and Fuyan Yi joined the group on the boat risking their lives in rough waters along the journey. 

The charges filed against the group include conspiracy and aiding and abetting transportation of illegal aliens and conspiracy to defraud the United States. 

Documents state Zhang has since been convicted and was spared jail time. Zhang was only given three years' supervised release. Zhang was arrested Wednesday after failing to comply with probation. 

Separately, court records name defendant Hongmei Ding who was charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens back in September 2023. Ding was convicted in early November 2023. He was also spared jail time and placed on three years' supervised release. 

A warrant of arrest however was issued for Ding in December of last year after he failed to comply with probation. 

The charges against the seven defendants were handed down in District Court for the Northern Marianas Islands.

Petitions for writ of removals were filed in court for defendants Zhang and Ding. The probation violations resulted in federal prosecutors calling for the defendants to be sent from Guam back to the CNMI.