PRC National Sentenced to 55 Months in Federal Prison For Trafficking Methamphetamine

Saipan, MP – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that YANG Liang, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was sentenced on August 8, 2025 by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to 55 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possess Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1).  Yang was also ordered to report to immigration officials for deportation proceedings upon release from prison. 

In September 2023, Yang facilitated the shipment of methamphetamine concealed inside lava lamps, which were sent by mail from California to Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).  The suspicious packages were intercepted by the CNMI Customs Service. In collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, authorities executed a controlled delivery operation that led to the arrest and conviction of Yang and co-conspirator Ye Fang, also known as "Batu," a PRC national who was unlawfully present in the United States. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately eight pounds of liquid methamphetamine.

“Methamphetamine is a poison in our communities,” stated United States Attorney Anderson.  “Although commonly trafficked in solid or powder form, liquid methamphetamine presents a unique danger to aviation workers during cargo handling operations.  The quantity of drugs seized during this investigation magnifies that concern.  Regardless of the form, our federal and local law enforcement partners are skilled in detecting this contraband in our mail system.  Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute drug traffickers and their sources of supply.”

“As demonstrated by this case, drug criminals will go to extreme lengths to cash out on their product. Be it using lava lamps or other packaging to conceal methamphetamine, drug syndicates are relentless, resourceful, and boldly inventive. But our skilled DEA investigators and law enforcement partners are just as unswerving in their determination to intercept drug traffickers and seize dangerous drugs, before they reach our communities,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Saipan.  “We will continue to work with vehemence to ensure that those who contribute to this country’s drug crisis are held accountable.”

“Liang Yang's sentencing demonstrates HSI's dedication to protecting our communities, “said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “HSI remains focused on preventing drug smuggling and ensuring everyone follows our immigration laws.”

“The FBI, along with our partner agencies, works relentlessly every day to protect our communities from the dangers of drug trafficking organizations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This sentencing sends a strong message – the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to confront and disrupt these dangerous criminal organizations, wherever they operate.”

“USPIS is proud of our work bringing drug traffickers to justice in CNMI and keeping methamphetamine out of the mail,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood.  “I want to extend my gratitude to CNMI Customs, the CNMI Department of Public Safety, and the members of the Guam Interdiction Anti-Narcotics Trafficking Task Force (GIANT TF), including the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam Police Department, and the Guam Army National Guard Counterdrug Program. I would also like to acknowledge our federal law enforcement partners for their invaluable collaboration in this case.”

This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshal Service, CNMI Customs, CNMI Department of Public Safety, and in collaboration with the CNMI Attorney General’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr., and former Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Kost prosecuted this case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). (PRESS RELEASE)