Independent U.S. Delegate candidate Galvin Sablan Deleon Guerrero is condemning alleged federal export‑control violations linked to Saipan, saying any criminal activity tied to the islands threatens national security and adds to years of negative national media attention that harms the CNMI.
His comments follow a recently unsealed federal case involving Ding Wei Chen, a Chinese national charged in the District Court for Utah with conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, exporting defense articles without authorization, and smuggling goods from the United States.
Federal investigators say Chen and others attempted to buy and export military‑grade satellite modems to China between March and October 2025 without the required State Department license. Homeland Security agents say Chen communicated with an undercover officer about smuggling the equipment and arranging a meeting in Saipan. A DHS database check later showed he was traveling to the CNMI, where he was arrested. The case has since been transferred to the District Court for the NMI but has not yet appeared in the court’s docket.
Deleon Guerrero said the community welcomes visitors, but illegal acts of any kind have no place in the Marianas. He said the CNMI “unequivocally condemns” actions that undermine the rule of law or use the islands as a backdrop for criminal activity.
According to the delegate candidate, the CNMI remains a law‑abiding U.S. jurisdiction despite isolated incidents that draw national attention. He said the islands are “overwhelmingly lawful, peaceful, and hardworking,” and he supports full accountability through local and federal law‑enforcement partnerships.
He added that national media coverage too often focuses on isolated labor or criminal cases, which he argues do not reflect the true character of the Marianas.
If elected, Deleon Guerrero said he will work to strengthen law‑enforcement cooperation, promote accurate national narratives about the CNMI, and advocate for sustainable economic development.
He said the Marianas “deserves prosperity, justice, and respect,” and that safeguarding the CNMI’s reputation will remain one of his priorities.
