Source: United States Department of Justice News
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced that Peter Quifunas, age 25, and Doreen Esther Quitaro, age 48, both from Yona, Guam, were sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to federal prison for Attempted Possession of Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with the Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Quifunas was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. Quitaro was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On September 7, 2021, federal agents obtained a warrant to search a U.S. Priority Mail package sent from Long Beach, California to a Yona address. The package contained 401 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride that was 98% pure. The drugs were discovered inside 42 plastic bags secured in small balloons, which were further concealed inside 42 “Cra-Z-Art” paint bottles, a children’s washable paint set.
On September 9, 2021, agents conducted a controlled delivery of the package. The drugs were replaced with a fake substance prior to the delivery. The defendants were arrested after they obtained and opened the package, which a relative retrieved from one of the cluster boxes in the Yona Mayor’s Office. A search was conducted on Quifunas’ vehicle, where agents recovered a .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number located in the center console. Agents also recovered numerous zip lock baggies and a digital scale from Quitaro’s vehicle.
“Drug trafficking through the mail system, including cluster boxes, is an ongoing concern to law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “As this case reveals, this activity does not go undetected regardless of the schemes devised by traffickers. Combating drug crimes, particularly those involving firearms, will remain a high priority for our office.”
“Drug dealers have no business at the Post Office. Today’s sentences show that Postal Inspectors will use all the tools available to identify criminals who attempt to use the U.S. Mail to traffic controlled substances, and bring them to justice.” said Kevin Rho, Acting Inspector in Charge, USPIS, San Francisco Division. “Investigations like this will continue thanks to dependable teamwork with our partners in federal law enforcement.”
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. These cases were prosecuted by Marivic P. David and Laura C. Sambataro, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Guam.