Suspended sentences for U.S. service members and Defense Department civilian employees for importing drugs onto Okinawa via mail are not uncommon. (Pixabay)

NAHA, Okinawa — A Japanese court on Tuesday handed a U.S. Marine Corps spouse a suspended sentence for sending liquid cannabis to Okinawa through the Military Postal Service.

Naha District Court Judge Masataka Tanabe sentenced Ashley Griewahn, 38, to two years in prison with hard labor. Her case was tried April 30. Tanabe suspended Griewahn’s sentence for three years, meaning she will not serve time in Japanese prison provided she commits no further offenses.

She is married to Capt. Kenneth Griewahn, who works at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, according to evidence read during the trial by the prosecutor, who identified himself in court only by his last name, Ikeda.

Capt. Griewahn, of Michigan, is an avionics officer with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, Marine Aircraft Group 36, according to an email Tuesday from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield.

The Marine Corps cooperated with Japanese authorities during the investigation, which found no evidence of misconduct by Capt. Griewahn, he added.

“We are committed to being good neighbors in our host communities, and we expect the same standard of conduct from all family members accompanying service members on orders,” he said.

Ashley Griewahn was indicted March 10 for attempting to smuggle 10.73 grams of liquid cannabis, or 0.4 ounces, to Okinawa in October.

She hid 11 cartridges of the drug in two boxes of toys that her husband shipped from Michigan on Oct. 12 and were intercepted Oct. 17 by the Camp Foster customs office, according to the indictment.

She bought the drugs from a website, Amazing Budz, while in Michigan, Ikeda said in court on April 30. Recreational cannabis is legal in Michigan.

During the investigation, Griewahn told prosecutors she secured four cartridges in one box and seven in the other with tape, and that her husband sent the packages without knowing they contained drugs.

Tanabe suspended the sentence because Griewahn admitted to smuggling the cannabis, showed remorse and has no criminal record in Japan, he said Tuesday.

“I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done,” Griewahn said April 30. “I regret it deeply. I’m sorry to Japan, to the people related and to my family.”

Suspended sentences for U.S. service members and Defense Department civilian employees for importing drugs onto Okinawa via mail are not uncommon.

A Marine convicted in October of importing a synthetic cannabinoid received a suspended, 30-month sentence, and another Marine convicted in December 2023 of importing LSD received a suspended, 18-month sentence.