SAIPAN — Four CNMI men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a human smuggling operation that transported 21 Chinese nationals by boat from Saipan to Guam in June 2023.
United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson announced that Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands sentenced the defendants for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I).
Steven Villagomez Pangelinan, 58, was sentenced to 30 months incarceration, two years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment. William J. Cabrera, Jr., 44, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment. Steven Chris Tomokane, 55, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, six months of home detention, three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment. Kenneth Hocog Pangelinan, 39, was sentenced to 37 days incarceration, three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 assessment fee.
According to court documents, on June 22, 2023, Steven Pangelinan led a 25-foot Boston Whaler and an 18-foot McKee Craft on a 120-mile, overnight trip from Saipan to Guam to smuggle 21 Chinese nationals. Prosecutors said each person paid about $4,500 to avoid airport immigration checks by Customs and Border Protection.
Guam authorities spotted the boats dropping off passengers and alerted CNMI law enforcement. CNMI authorities then intercepted the two vessels and their four-person crew on the return trip to Saipan.
Pangelinan led an organized human smuggling operation that was responsible for numerous prior trips, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He owned the boats, captained one vessel during the June 22 voyage, and earned at least $80,000 from that run alone. A third vessel, a 31-foot Fountain, was also linked to his smuggling activities, and all three boats will be forfeited to the federal government.
Cabrera served as Pangelinan’s primary accomplice and captained the second boat on this and previous smuggling runs. Tomokane, a boat mechanic, allowed Pangelinan to store vessels used for human smuggling at his residence. Tomokane and Kenneth Pangelinan both served as crew members for Pangelinan and Cabrera on the June 22 voyage.
“The defendants facilitated illegal migration and risked the lives of many for their own financial gain,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Their conduct was part of a concerning trend involving the abuse of the CNMI visa waiver program, among other provisions of our immigration laws. We will combat this activity at every opportunity. I applaud the work of Guam and CNMI law enforcement in support of federal immigration enforcement.”
“This sentencing underscores Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit while undermining the integrity of our immigration system,” said Lucia Cabral-DeArmas, HSI Honolulu. “The defendants in this case endangered lives and violated the law in their attempt to smuggle individuals into Guam. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our borders and hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the CNMI Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr. prosecuted the case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.