Yan pleads not guilty to federal charges; trial set Dec. 22

Longgui Yan, also known as “Andy,” pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four federal charges, with the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands setting his jury trial for Dec. 22.

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted Yan's plea during his Oct. 21 arraignment and scheduled the trial for 10am.

Yan, who appeared in custody, was represented by court-appointed attorney Mark Scoggins, while assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe appeared for the government. Xiaohua “Monique” Kramer served as his interpreter.

During the hearing, Backe outlined the four charges and their possible penalties. The first count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison.

Scoggins informed the court that he had reviewed the indictment with Yan, who waived its formal reading before entering his not guilty plea.

Scoggins also informed the court that he would be traveling during the week of the scheduled trial and requested a later date. Manglona denied the request without prejudice, leaving the Dec. 22 trial date in place.

The judge also addressed Yan's legal representation, noting an earlier finding that he does not qualify for court-appointed counsel.

Scoggins told the court that Yan had taken concrete steps to retain a private attorney.

Manglona informed Yan that although Scoggins had been temporarily appointed for the initial proceedings, Yan would be personally responsible for any further legal services provided by the attorney. Yan acknowledged that he understood.

Backe also informed the court that the government planned to file a substantive motion the following day.

Under the court's scheduling order, pretrial motions must be filed by Nov. 4, while motions in limine are due Nov. 20. Proposed jury instructions, witness lists, and other trial materials must also be submitted before trial.

Yan was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The federal case stems from an Aug. 24 incident at Kiss Bar along Beach Road in Garapan, where Yan allegedly threatened a woman with a firearm.

According to an earlier federal criminal complaint, investigators also recovered 41.23 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, plastic bags, and a .22-caliber Ruger rifle during a search of Yan's As Perdido residence.

Yan separately faces 13 local criminal charges involving drugs, firearms, and an alleged assault. His local case is pending before Superior Court Presiding Judge Joseph N. Camacho.