Judge finds probable cause on Yan meth trafficking charge

The Superior Court has found probable cause to hold Longgui Yan, also known as “Andy,” on a newly added methamphetamine trafficking charge, bringing the criminal case against him to 13 counts involving drugs, firearms, and an alleged assault.

Presiding Judge Joseph N. Camacho made the finding following a preliminary hearing last Sept. 30 in Superior Court, where Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Bureau detective Joannalyn Laniyo testified for the government.

Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds represented the government, while Yan, who remains in Department of Corrections custody, was represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig. Chinese interpreter Lucy Chen was also present.

Following the hearing, Camacho found probable cause to believe the additional offense of trafficking of a controlled substance had been committed and probable cause to believe Yan committed the offense.

The court ordered the government to file a second amended information specifying the gross grams involved in the trafficking count.

Hinds told the media following the hearing that the trafficking charge was added after the original information was filed.

“Today we added, because after the original information was filed, we added a trafficking of a controlled substance, and so we need to have another preliminary hearing for that,” Hinds said.

Hinds said the amount of drugs allegedly recovered formed the basis for the trafficking charge.

“So basically because the amount was so much, we can charge trafficking of a controlled substance,” he said.

The first amended information filed by the Office of the Attorney General alleges that Yan unlawfully manufactured, delivered, or possessed with intent to manufacture, deliver, or dispense crystal methamphetamine allegedly recovered during the execution of a search warrant.

The trafficking allegation is Count XIII of the first amended information.

The other charges against Yan include assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, unlawful transportation of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, additional assault and battery, three counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, and storage of a firearm.

According to the first amended information, the case began with an alleged Aug. 24 incident involving Yang Peiting, identified by prosecutors as a household member of Yan.

Prosecutors allege Yan pointed an Iver Johnson 1911 pistol at Yang and pressed the barrel against her chin. The government further alleges Yan grabbed and pulled Yang into a private room and threatened to kill her.

The following day, prosecutors allege Yan struck Yang on the head and pinned her down on a bed.

The government's firearm allegations include possession and transportation of an Iver Johnson 1911 pistol and ammunition. Prosecutors also allege ammunition was recovered during searches of a red Ford Mustang and Yan's residence.

Another count alleges Yan failed to properly secure a .22 Ruger rifle inside a residence.

The allegations contained in the information have not been proven at trial.

Yan's case had previously come before Camacho for arraignment Sept. 16 after prosecutors filed the first amended information adding the trafficking charge. The court subsequently set the matter for a preliminary hearing on the additional count.

Following Tuesday's probable-cause finding, Camacho scheduled Yan's arraignment on the amended charge for Oct. 14 at 10am in Courtroom 220A.

Yan was remanded to Department of Corrections custody pending further proceedings.