Mark Mayo Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

 Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Mark Mayo, age 43, from Barrigada, Guam, was sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to 120 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.   The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee.  In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.

On May 10, 2018, the United States Postal Inspection Service discovered a parcel of mail that contained suspected methamphetamine.  Joseph R. Roman II subsequently claimed the package at the Barrigada Post Office.  Roman then entered a car driven by Daniel Topasna Pangelinan.  Surveillance units observed Roman dispose of the package behind a shelter in Dededo.  Law enforcement retrieved the package and detained Roman and Pangelinan.  Pangelinan later stated that Mark Mayo was supposed to pick up the discarded package and deliver it to Lovelia Mendoza.  Soon after the package was discarded, Mayo called Pangelinan and said that the “feds” got the package.  Messages on Pangelinan’s phone corroborated his version of events.

On February 10, 2021, a federal jury found Mayo guilty as charged.  The evidence revealed that the package contained 418.7 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride with a 98% purity.

U.S. Attorney Anderson stated, “Our office is committed to aggressively prosecuting drug offenses in Guam and the CNMI.  Substantial penalties, including mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment, apply to many of these crimes.  Considering the effects of methamphetamine on our communities, we must make every effort toward deterrence and accountability.”

FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Steven Merrill said, “Drugs have a detrimental impact in the community of Guam and we will not cede our communities to drug traffickers who have no regard for the harm they bring into our neighborhoods. The FBI Honolulu Division, Guam Resident Agency is dedicated to identifying and investigating individuals engaged in narcotics trafficking and holding them accountable. We will continue to work with our partners such as the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office in our collective efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute narcotics traffickers, and make our communities safer.”

This case was a result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.  The case was prosecuted by Laura C. Sambataro, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.