Twenty-Seven Indicted as a Result of Massive Marijuana Plant Seizure

HOUSTON—A total of 27 people have been indicted as a result of the seizure of nearly 14,000 marijuana plants during enforcement actions conducted throughout the greater Houston area on August 21, 2012, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. On that date, search warrants were executed on 60 properties located throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. A total of 40 of these properties were allegedly active hydroponic marijuana grow houses and contained marijuana plants in various stages of the growth. At that time, 24 individuals were arrested and are currently now in custody.

The criminal indictment returned today charges the defendants with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving more than 1000 marijuana plants and conspiracy of maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, and using controlled substances. The indictment also gives notice of forfeiture of several vehicles, U.S. currency, and assorted hydroponic equipment from the store front and warehouse.

Court records indicate that numerous houses located throughout Montgomery, Harris, and Fort Bend Counties were utilized to grow marijuana. The searches resulted in the seizure of at least 100 and up to more than 850 marijuana plants in each of the 40 grow houses, totaling approximately 13,907 marijuana plants. Also seized during the course of the enforcement action was the equipment allegedly used to grow the marijuana as well as additional equipment from a suspected hydroponic store front and warehouse.

Prior to the August 21 enforcement actions, 14 additional grow houses had previously been searched in relation to this organization, during which additional marijuana plants were seized. The total number of plants seized during the course of the overall investigation totaled approximately 19,000 plants.

The individuals arrested on August 21 and indicted today include: Thu Loan Dinh, 35; Hong Nhut Dang, 41; Anh Quang Nguyen, 52; Van Long Tran, 33; Tien Van Nguyen, 43; Minh Pham, 58; Truong Quang Lam, 37; Gioi The Nguyen, 55; Quy Ngoc Nguyen, 39; and Khac Hung Dinh, 45, all of Houston; Long Nguyen, 32; Long Do, 32; Tam Nguyen, 52; and Thang Van Doan, 35, of Conroe, Texas; Timmy Dang, 37;  Huu Trong Vu, 23; Ida Nga Pham, 33; Vinh Cong Le, 27; Hung Huy Nguyen, 48; Thiet Van Nguyen, 49; Trang Thi Kim Truong, 40; and Thi Ngo, 46, all of Spring, Texas; Yen Thi Do, 42, Richmond, Texas; and Tai Tan Nguyen, 29, of Tomball, Texas.

Also indicted were Dinh Le, 47, who is currently in state custody, and Hein Le and Johnny Ng, 51, both of Houston, who are fugitives.

A conviction for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute carries as possible punishment a term of no less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison as well as a $10 million fine. If convicted of conspiracy to maintain a place of manufacturing, each defendant also faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $500,000 fine.

The charges are the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation dubbed Green House Effect, which included federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies such as the DEA; sheriff’s offices in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties; Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; police departments in Houston; Katy, Pearland, Willis, Conroe, Huntsville, and Pasadena, Texas National Guard Joint Counter Drug Unit; and Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

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.