Kangle Jiang, a 22-year-old citizen of the People's Republic of China, has been sentenced to 30 days in prison by the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. The charges include conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Following his imprisonment, Jiang will face one year of supervised release, perform 50 hours of community service, and pay a $100 special assessment fee.
The case stems from an incident on December 9, 2024, when Jiang conspired with another individual in Saipan to transport himself and seven other Chinese nationals to Guam by boat. The group aimed to evade law enforcement and extend their stay unlawfully in the United States. Jiang had arrived in the CNMI on October 31, 2024, and paid $6,000 for the trip. As they neared Guam's shore, passengers were coerced into jumping into the water despite some being unable to swim. Many were later found near sensitive military areas.
"Combatting unlawful immigration is the top priority of the Department of Justice," stated United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson. He highlighted that while federal immigration regulations allow certain foreign nationals to visit CNMI as tourists, these benefits are undermined when individuals attempt illegal entry into other U.S. territories. Anderson emphasized that such actions not only violate laws but also endanger lives during risky sea travel.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas remarked on HSI's dedication to enforcing immigration laws and preventing human smuggling: "By going after violators like Mr. Jiang, we protect our communities by trying to prevent the inherent dangers posed by smuggling."
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. O'Malley.