Hagatña, Guam - SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Kelvin John Mata Tedtaotao, age 37, from Merizo, Guam, was sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to 30 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Over 50 Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. The Court also ordered three years of supervised release following imprisonment and $1,692 in restitution to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations. The defendant must also perform 100 hours of community service and pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On Feb. 14, 2018, Tedtaotao received two packages that had been mailed to Guam via the United States Postal Service (USPS) by another individual. Prior to USPS delivery, law enforcement removed the methamphetamine from both packages and replaced it with a sham substance. Tedtaotao believed the packages contained methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute to others. The combined weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 223 grams, with a purity of 98%, as determined by the United States Postal Drug Laboratory.
U.S. Attorney Anderson stated, “This case sends an important message to drug traffickers who use our mail system to facilitate their illegal activity. Anyone involved with the shipment of drugs in the mail can become the target of an investigation and face substantial time in a federal prison. I applaud the efforts of these federal agencies in their continuing enforcement operations."
This case was a result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Stephen F. Leon Guerrero, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
