HOUSTON—An illegal alien from Vietnam
has been sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for his role in a criminal
enterprise involving the growth and marketing of hydroponic marijuana, United
States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
Bich Xuan Dang, 39, pleaded guilty to
possession with intent to distribute more than 100 marijuana plants on February
22, 2012. Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison handed him the federal
sentence, which was enhanced due to his classification as a career offender
after multiple prior convictions for crimes of violence.
A joint state-federal task force
arrested Dang inside a residence in Katy, Texas that had been converted into a
sophisticated hydroponic marijuana growth facility. In addition to arresting
Dang, officers seized nearly 300 marijuana plants together with the array of
grow lamps, ballasts, blower fans, water and air filtration systems, and growth
media that Dang and his organization used to produce the marijuana. When
arrested, Dang was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and a 30-round extended
magazine.
Dang has been in custody since his
arrest, where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons
facility to be determined in the near future.
This case was investigated by the FBI
and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United
States Attorney Michael Kusin.
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