Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

CNMI’s Palacios pleads guilty in drugs case

Posted at 01:50 on 04 February, 2013 UTC

A former Northern Marianas lawmaker, Raymond Palacios, has pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, as part of a plea deal.

The former politician was charged with two counts of trafficking of a controlled substance and two counts of illegal possession of a controlled substance.

As part of the plea bargain, remaining charges will be dismissed.

According to police reports, members of the Drug Enforcement Task Force and Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau used a confidential source to buy US$200 worth of methamphetamine from Palacios in two transactions in October 2011.

His sentencing has been set for March the 19th.

Illegal possession of a controlled substance carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.