Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Jesse Fegurgur Belen, age 46, from Dededo, Guam was sentenced to serve 105 months imprisonment. Belen pled guilty to Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment, 50 hours of community service, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $1,636 in U.S. currency. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
During November 2022, Belen attempted to possess a postal package containing one pound of 98% pure methamphetamine. The drugs were mailed from Colton, California, and addressed to the Yigo Post Office. Belen and co-defendant Lorina Fejeran received the package and drove to Wusstig Road in Dededo. When law enforcement stopped their vehicle at a commercial building, Belen grabbed the methamphetamine and fled on foot. Belen threw the methamphetamine into the yard of a nearby residence to conceal the drugs. Law enforcement found him hiding 15 feet from the roadway.
“We will continue to interdict drugs trafficked through our mail system in an effort to keep Guam safe,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Belen’s significant criminal history also made him a worthy target for federal prosecution. I applaud the work of our federal partners in bringing him to justice.”
“One crucial aspect of HSI’s mission is to prevent deadly drugs from infiltrating our borders and endangering our communities. By leveraging our partnerships with law enforcement, we can hold individuals accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “The arrest of Mr. Belen exemplifies our commitment to ensuring the safety of our community from the threat of deadly drugs.”
“United States Postal Inspectors are dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of trust placed in the US Mail. We will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the US Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impact the safety of our postal employees and customers.” said, Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) San Francisco Division. “We thank our federal and local law enforcement partners, including Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency and Guam Police Department, for working with us to combat these crimes in the effort to make our communities a safer place to live and work.”
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services.
The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.