Edward A. Baza Sentenced to Prison in Ice Trafficking Case

          SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant EDWARD A. BAZA (“BAZA”), age 65, originally from Guam but residing in Hesperia, California, was sentenced on October 22, 2018, in District Court to a 45-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and 50 hours of community service.  The Court also ordered BAZA to pay a mandatory $100 assessment fee.  In addition, defendants who are convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.

          On June 12, 2018, BAZA pled guilty to the charge of Unlawful Use of the Mail to Facilitate the Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(3)(A).  The investigation revealed that BAZA and other individuals used the mail system in an attempt to distribute methamphetamine on Guam.  On August 19, 2013, a package addressed to BAZA’s girlfriend was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant. Agents found methamphetamine concealed inside a Chips Ahoy cookie container.  BAZA and his girlfriend went to the post office to claim the package.  The substance was later determined to contain 137.3 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, with a 90% purity.  The drugs had a street value of up to $123,000.

          The U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Belinda Alcantara, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Guam.