Ye Fang, a citizen of the People's Republic of China, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to possess over 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The sentence was issued by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Ye Fang was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release, pay a $100 special assessment fee, and report to immigration officials for deportation proceedings upon release.
Ye Fang came to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in 2016 under a tourist visa waiver program. After his visa expired, he stayed in Saipan and ran a birth tourism business for three years. He then shifted to methamphetamine trafficking.
In November 2022, CNMI police searched Ye Fang's residence and seized more than one kilogram of methamphetamine. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, but he fled Saipan and traveled to Guam, where he continued his drug trafficking operations. In September 2023, Ye Fang orchestrated the shipment of methamphetamine concealed in lava lamps from California to Saipan. These packages were intercepted by CNMI Customs, leading to the arrest of Liang Yang, a co-conspirator and also a PRC national out of status. Approximately eight pounds of liquid methamphetamine were seized.
Ye Fang fled Guam in November 2023 using another person's identification and traveled to Palau, where he organized the murder of another PRC citizen. Arrested in January 2024, he pled guilty to manslaughter and received an 18-month prison sentence in Palau. Later extradited to the CNMI, he pled guilty to charges related to the lava lamp drug scheme.
"Law enforcement has brought Ye Fang’s Indo-Pacific crime spree to an end," stated United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson. "He will now serve many years in a United States prison with other high-risk offenders. Every day of his sentence is a day made safer for the people of the CNMI. We will continue to use our resources to combat transnational criminals and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime."
"Methamphetamine is potent and highly addictive. This synthetic stimulant has contributed to the overdose crisis facing America. DEA, along with federal and international partners, are in lockstep in our commitment to combat drug networks," said Anthony Chrysanthis, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Saipan. "We will vehemently pursue all criminals who flood our communities with this poison."
"Today’s sentencing is the direct result of sustained commitment and collaboration between the FBI and our law enforcement partners," said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. "Mr. Fang led a violent, transnational narcotics trafficking organization; his crimes significantly contributed to the ongoing drug epidemic facing America and plaguing our island communities. The FBI—standing in resolve with our local, state, and federal partners—is prepared to confront and disrupt these dangerous criminal organizations, wherever they may operate."
"The conviction of Mr. Fang is a testament to HSI’s enduring commitment to keep harmful substances out of Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Island," said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. "Understanding the damage that illegal narcotics do to our communities, we will stop at nothing to hold those accountable for their contributions to drug trafficking within our islands."
"As the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the safety of postal employees and the public is our top priority," said Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Anyone who misuses the U.S. Postal Service will be held accountable for their actions. I would like to thank our federal and local law enforcement partners, including our task force partners from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam Police Department, and Army National Guard Counterdrug Program."
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and supported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshal Service for extradition, CNMI Customs, CNMI Department of Public Safety, Republic of Palau Bureau of Public Safety, and in collaboration with the CNMI Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the Republic of Palau.
Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr., and former Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Kost prosecuted the case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation consolidates efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
