A man from China has been sentenced to a federal prison term for taking advantage of a barely-known gap in the law to attempt to bring a group of illegal migrants into a U.S. territory.

The 36-year-old, Zhongli Pang, admitted guilt to charges of conspiring to transport illegal immigrants and planning to deceive the U.S. government. This was after he made an attempt to smuggle 12 Chinese nationals into the U.S. territory of Guam, as shared by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday.

“The capture of Mr. Pang demonstrates HSI’s ongoing commitment to preventing the extremely risky and illegal transport of undocumented individuals within the CNMI,” stated Lucy Cabral-DeArmas, a Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI collaborates with state and local agencies to prevent future offenses by holding offenders responsible, which helps to keep our communities safe through ongoing cooperation.”

The U.S. territory of Guam is an attractive target for Chinese migrants given its proximity to the Northern Mariana Islands. (iStock)

The DOJ and an attorney for Pang did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

A federal judge sentenced Pang to three months in federal prison with credit for time served and 50 hours of community service. The case comes as U.S. officials are cracking down on the flow of illegal immigrants through U.S. territories, such as Guam. 

In 2023, HSI announced the launch of a Mariana Islands Border Enforcement Security Task Force in an effort to combat threats looking to enter the U.S. through the islands. The Mariana Islands and Guam can be an attractive entry point for criminals given their proximity to Asia. 

HSI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

“We will continue to target illegal aliens unlawfully traveling between the CNMI and Guam,” U.S. Attorney Shawn Anderson said. “The risk to personal safety is substantial. Those interdicted also face imprisonment and immigration penalties. We urge PRC nationals to fully comply with the CNMI’s parole program and return to China as agreed upon entry to Saipan. Enhanced enforcement efforts by DHS will result in the apprehension of those attempting to evade detection.”