Sentencing hearing reveals drug dealer allegedly conspired with mom to smuggle drugs into prison

Patrick Anthony Manibusan and Darrell Jake Guerrero were arrested in January of last year after an incident occurred at Leo Palace resort in Yona.

According to court documents Guerrero was found unresponsive by resort staff causing management to call the police for assistance. Upon arrival, a Guam Police Department officer saw Guerrero on the couch, and inside an unzipped and open fanny pack in plain view were multiple bags containing a large amount of meth. Officers also saw a large amount of money, which GPD secured the room and contacted the feds.

Guerrero admitted to officers that he was staying in the hotel room with Manibusan, who checked into the room under a different identity. When Manibusan returned to the hotel, he was apprehended by investigators after checking in at the Leo Palace gate.

Further documents state $845 was found on Manibusan, and he admitted to smoking meth in the room with Guerrero. Detectives executed a search warrant and seized 330 grams of meth, two improvised glass pipes with suspected meth, drug packaging materials, and $4,095 from the hotel room. Documents state, "the circumstances indicate that the hotel room was being used to store and distribute meth."

Guerrero is accused of being the source drug supplier, with Manibusan personally using meth and making sales. Both Manibusan and Guerrero plead guilty to possession of meth with intent to distribute and entered plea agreements with the government.

The co-conspirators were sentenced this afternoon at separate hearings in Chief Justice Frances Tydingco–Gatewood's courtroom.

For Manibusan, his clean record, mitigating role in the case, acceptance of responsibility and his substantial assistance was praised by the court and the government. As stated in court he has done well following supervision conditions for the past ten months and that prior to being charged he entered a drug treatment program that he has since successfully completed.

Additionally, it was noted that he has continued to work throughout his release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Sambataro stating that Manibusan has earned the recommendation for sentencing on the low end of the guidelines.

Manibusan was sentenced to 37 months or three years in federal prison followed by a three-year supervised release term and no fine imposed. The court also placed three judicial recommendations for Manibusan to serve his time on the west coast, continue with drug treatment and avail of vocational training. Maniubsan addressed the court stating that he was ready to change and apologized for his behavior.

While Manibusan's sentencing ended on a positive note, it was a lengthy hearing for Guerrero. Sambataro called up DEA Taskforce Officer Henry James with Guam Customs to testify on behalf of  Guerrero's involvement in a scheme to bring contraband into the Department of Corrections during his 17 months in the Hagatna detention facility awaiting sentencing.

Several Paytel phone conversations were brought into evidence and played back of Guerrero speaking with his mom and a man named "Ben" regarding alleged drug transactions.

Despite numerous objections by defense counsel Jay Arriola, the court allowed the government to proceed with questioning Officer James and playing back the phone call recordings. As heard in the playback Guerrero allegedly set up a transaction directing his mom to call a number to pick up $300 to go toward four DVD's that each cost $150. Officer James stated that based on his experience and being familiar with coded language, he interprets four DVD's to mean 4 grams of meth suspected to be brought into the detention facility.

During another phone recording, Guerrero is accused of discussing another drug deal involving five grams of meth inside a package for his mom to pick up.

James testified that he recognizes Guerrero's voice based on prior interviews with the defendant, listening into many of his phone calls and that the individuals on the line address him as Darrell.

The defense asked for a continuance for cross-examination on the witness to "further investigate the allegation brought forward today." The court granted the request and schedule a return for Friday, May 28.