Saipan Sex Trafficker Sentenced To Over 19 Years In Prison

     SAIPAN, CNMI – ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, U.S. District Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Wei Lin, age 32, of the People’s Republic of China, to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.  Judge Manglona also ordered Lin to pay $7,172.39 in restitution to each of the three victims.

     Lin pleaded guilty to the offense on June 8, 2012.  At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Manglona found the United States had also proven by clear and convincing evidence that Lin was the leader of the sex trafficking organization.

     United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, stated, “Those who traffic women will find no refuge from law enforcement.   We will aggressively prosecute anyone who tries to profit off the sexual exploitation of women.  Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this heinous crime.  It also sends a clear message that trafficking in persons will not be tolerated in the C.N.M.I.”

     The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance of the Department  of  Homeland  Security/Homeland  Security  Investigations,  and  prosecuted  by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe.