Trafficking Marijuana

Dorchester Man Sentenced to 27 ½ Years for Trafficking Marijuana and Ecstasy


March 12, 2010 - Boston — A Dorchester man was sentenced late yesterday in federal court to twenty-seven and a half years imprisonment for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 3,000 kilograms of marijuana, being a felon in possession of firearms, conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing MDMA, also known as ecstasy and distribution of ecstasy.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Steven Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Boston Field Division; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Boston Field Division; Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Boston Field Division; Susan Dukes, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation - Boston Field Office; and Police Commissioner Edward Davis of the Boston Police Department announced today that QUOC BAO TRINH, age 30, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young after having pled guilty on November 20, 2008 and November 9, 2009, in two separate cases. As part of TRINH’s sentence, Judge Young also ordered forfeiture of TRINH’s assets, including his interest in 59 Bloomfield Street, commercial properties in Buffalo, New York, $8,843 in cash, a 2002 Mercedes S500, a 2000 Mercedes SL500, a 2003 Dodge Ram van, a 1999 Mercedes ML430, and a $47,000 custom-made platinum and diamond necklace, and issued forfeiture money judgments against TRINH in the total amount of over $20 million.

In its Sentencing Memorandum filed with the Court, the Government noted that TRINH, the organizer and leader of the marijuana conspiracy, was responsible for trafficking 15,240 pounds of marijuana as well as 2,784 grams of MDMA. TRINH, a previously convicted felon, had also possessed two guns, a .25 caliber pistol and a 9 millimeter pistol.

On October 26, 2009, TRINH’s brother Tai Trinh plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions, under an agreement with the government which, if accepted by the Court, will result in twenty years’ imprisonment in addition to forfeiture of a Cadillac Escalade and entry of a $10 million forfeiture money judgment. Tai Trinh’s sentencing is set for April 2, 2010, before Judge Young.

On December 23, 2009, TRINH’s father and mother, Tiem Trinh and Anna Trinh, were convicted following a seven-week jury trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tiem Trinh was also convicted of substantive money laundering counts, unlawful monetary transactions, and perjury. At the same time, TRINH’s brother Antwon Trinh was acquitted of a single charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. TRINH’s sister Stephanie Hong Trinh was acquitted of several counts of money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering against Stephanie Trinh, and the Government later dismissed that count against her. Tiem Trinh and Anna Trinh are scheduled for sentencing on March 30, 2010, before Judge Young.

In connection with this same investigation, the Government filed a complaint for civil forfeiture against 59 Bloomfield Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts, the house where QUOC TRINH, Tai Trinh, Tiem Trinh and Anna Trinh lived.

The case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; and the Special Investigations Unit of the Boston Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard L. Hoffman of Ortiz’s Drug Task Force Unit and Timothy E. Moran of Ortiz’s Organized Crime Strike Force Unit.