Agana Heights Resident Sentenced to 65 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs

Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced that defendant Maria E.L. Untalan, age 64, from Agana Heights, Guam was sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to 65 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty (50) Grams or More of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1).  The Court ordered the Defendant to participate in a 500-hour drug treatment program, serve three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and pay a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.  The Court also ordered the forfeiture of a 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle and $4,742.00 in cash.  In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.

Between April 2018 and continuing through April 2019, Maria E.L. Untalan entered into an agreement with other persons to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride in Guam. As part of that agreement, Untalan received packages containing methamphetamine that were mailed using the United States Postal Service.  On March 25, 2019, Untalan picked up a package at the Postnet facility in Upper Tumon. The package consisted of methamphetamine hydrochloride wrapped in plastic and electrical tape.  The drug weighed 406 grams and was 100% pure.

“I congratulate our law enforcement partners for the results of their hard work in intercepting these drugs in the mail stream,” stated United States Attorney Anderson.  “As this case and recent reports indicate, methamphetamine continues to be shipped on island.  We will make every effort to seize illicit drugs and prosecute those who engage in this criminal activity.”

“Those who distribute dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine cause great harm in our communities and ultimately contribute to the addiction and substance abuse problem,” said DEA Los Angeles Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “This sentencing sends a clear message that we will pursue and hold those responsible for distributing drugs on the island.”

“This sentence is a reminder to drug traffickers that we will not tolerate using the United States mail to transport-controlled substances in Guam or anywhere else,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Kevin Rho of the United States Postal Inspection Service, San Francisco Division. “I would like to thank our federal, territorial, and local law enforcement agencies for their partnership in stopping the spread of this methamphetamine and bringing this defendant to justice.”

The case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosetta L. San Nicolas, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam.