A federal investigation has resulted in 27 people being charged with drug trafficking.
The three-year federal probe was aimed at the sale of Ecstasy in Wichita and Sedgwick County.
“Investigators working undercover began buying the drugs late in 2004,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. “Detectives with Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies.”
Two indictments returned by a grand jury Jan. 8 were unsealed Friday as defendants were arrested and scheduled for initial appearances on Monday in U.S. District in Wichita.
The first indictment, with 20 defendants and 94 counts, includes:
– Three counts of conspiracy.
– One count of possession with intent to distribute 1 kilogram of cocaine
– One count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
– 12 counts of possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy
– Three counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
– Two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
– 72 counts of unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking
The other indictment, with seven defendants and 36 counts, includes:
– 13 counts of possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy
– One count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
– Nine counts of distributing Ecstasy
– Six counts of distributing marijuana
– One count of distributing cocaine
– One count of distributing crack cocaine
– Three counts of unlawful possession of firearm after a felony conviction
– One count of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun
– One count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking
Defendants in the first indictment include:
– Du Le, 26, Garland, Texas.
– Huy Nguyen, 34, Wichita, Kan.
– Johnny Nguyen, 34, Wichita, Kan.
– Thuong Nguyen, 26, Wichita, Kan.
– Alan Nguyen, 23, Wichita, Kan.
– Daniel Nguyen, 19, Wichita, Kan.
– Than Nguyen, 22, Wichita, Kan.
– Eric Suthy, 23, Wichita, Kan.
– Victor Tran, 23, Wichita, Kan.
– Billy D. Anderson, 29, Wichita, Kan.
– Christopher Atwell, 23, Wichita, Kan.
– Allen Bui, 20, Wichita, Kan.
– Tho Phan, 23, Wichita, Kan.
– Stuart Lu, 21, Wichita, Kan.
– Quy Elvis Phan, 23, Wichita.
– Anny Amphonephong, 29, Wichita, Kan.
– Jason Dunham, 30, Atlanta, Ga.
– Tony D. Tran, 23, Lawrence, Kan.
– Daniel Carbajal, 26, Wichita, Kan.
– Michael T. Tran, 22, Wichita, Kan.
Defendants in the second indictment include:
– Nhon Lu, 25, Wichita, Kan.
– Eric Schrader, 25, Wichita, Kan.
– Timothy Smoot, 29, Lubbock, Texas
– Joseph Reece, 28, Wichita, Kan.
– Nicholas McGovern, 34, Newton, Kan.
– Felipe Montes, 53, Wichita, Kan.
– Nichelle Bernard, 34, Wichita, Kan .
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million.
Possession with intent to distribute 1 kilogram of cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million.
Possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Possession with intent to distribute marijuana: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000.
Use of a phone in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of 4 years and a fine up to $30,000 on each count.
Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assisting with the arrest of defendants were the Newton Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas State Parole, the Kansas National Guard Counter Drug Program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
