The Chinese businessman charged in the Department of Human and Social Services Food stamp scam, Liren Zhang, also known as Kevin, will be released from the Territorial Correctional Facility today.
He has served 15 months in pretrial confinement and that was the amount of time the court sentenced him to serve as a condition of his 7 years of probation.
Originally charged with 9 counts of forgery and 6 counts of stealing, Zhang, in a plea agreement with the government, pleaded guilty to one count of stealing.
Chief Justice Michael Kruse, flanked by Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr. and Tunupopo Alalafaga, sentenced the businessman to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of $5,000.
But execution of the jail sentence was suspended and Zhang was placed on probation for 7 years.
The conditions of his probation are that he serve 28 months without release which will be staggered.
He served 15 months with credit for time served and then he will be released until December 18, 2023, when the court will have a probation review for him.
Another condition which the court stayed is that he depart the territory and not return for the remainder of his probation term.
In addition to the $5,000 fine, Zhang must pay $702,279 to the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program.
The government says stores owned by Zhang are where counterfeit ASNAP food coupons were redeemed.
Before he was sentenced, Zhang apologized for what he did and said during his time in the TCF, thanks to a church pastor who visited the jail, he has studied the Bible and has found Jesus.
He asked for a chance to get out of the TCF and said he has a new mission. Zhang said it’s not about making money, but being a good person.
Defense attorney Thomas Jones said that his client has accepted responsibility and he is a rehabilitated person who has found Christ in jail.
The defense attorney also said that Zhang wants to repay the money that he took and requested that the court give him a probated sentence.
Prosecutor Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey said Zhang has paid $262,000 to the co-defendants in the DHSS case; however, the government asks that the court order him to pay restitution to the ASNAP program.
Zhang is to be released from the TCF today.
The main defendant in the DHSS scam, Vincent Toeleava, is due to go on trial next month.
