A jury found Efren Tamio Bataclan guilty on all charges in a felony drug case following about two hours of deliberation, according to a March 18 release from the Office of the Attorney General.
Bataclan was convicted in Superior Court of two counts of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance as first-degree felonies, four counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance as third-degree felonies, and multiple counts of committing a felony while on felony release.
Prosecutors said the case stemmed from a coordinated investigation by the Guam Police Department’s Special Investigations Section and federal Homeland Security Investigations into a methamphetamine distribution operation in Dededo.
According to the release, Bataclan sold approximately 1.15 grams of methamphetamine to a police informant during a controlled buy on Aug. 4, 2020. A second transaction on Feb. 19, 2021, involved about 6.46 grams sold for $1,500, authorities said.
Investigators later executed a search warrant on Feb. 24, 2021, at a storage shed they said was used by Bataclan, recovering drug paraphernalia, meth residue and ammunition. Prosecutors said Bataclan later surrendered, admitted to selling methamphetamine for profit and claimed ownership of the seized items.
The prosecution team included Assistant Attorney General Jay W. Trumble, along with investigators Joel Verango and Albert Manley, and paralegals Angela Linder, Christopher Prelosky and Jon R. Lordio.
Attorney General Douglas Moylan said his office will seek the maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.