Federal Judge Denies Bond to Alleged Round Rock-Based Drug Trafficker and Money Launderer Who Used the Dark Web to Carryout his Schemes

 In Austin today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew W. Austin ordered that 38-year-old Round Rock resident Tu Hoang Dinh remain in federal custody after he entered a not-guilty plea to drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy charges involving the Dark Web, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Deputy Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, San Antonio Division; and Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks.

A federal grand jury indictment charges Dinh with one count of conspiracy to import and possess with intent to deliver controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  The indictment alleges that Dinh has conspired with others since 2018 to import and distribute THC, LSD, and MDMA (Ecstasy) using the Dark Web and under the business name “ATXGreen.”  The indictment also alleges that Dinh opened Venmo, PayPal, Square and Zelle accounts to accept payments for drugs.  He subsequently used proceeds from the distribution of narcotics to purchase two vehicles and to pay his property taxes in Williamson County.

Upon conviction, Dinh faces between 10 years and life in federal prison for the drug conspiracy and up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering conspiracy. No further court dates have been scheduled.

HSI and the Round Rock Police Department conducted this 16-month investigation with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Marshall and Robert Almonte are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.