FIVE SOUTH KING COUNTY MEN SENTENCED FOR MARIJUANA GROWS
Five men, all related by blood or marriage, were sentenced this morning in U.S. District Court in Seattle to prison terms for their involvement in marijuana manufacturing. The men each owned a home in South King County that had been extensively modified for marijuana growing. In some cases, no one resided at the house, it was simply a marijuana manufacturing facility. Two of the defendants received enhanced prison terms because of the presence of firearms at their grow house. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour noted the scope of the grow operation as he imposed the prison sentences.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Five men, all related by blood or marriage, were sentenced this morning in U.S. District Court in Seattle to prison terms for their involvement in marijuana manufacturing. The men each owned a home in South King County that had been extensively modified for marijuana growing. In some cases, no one resided at the house, it was simply a marijuana manufacturing facility. Two of the defendants received enhanced prison terms because of the presence of firearms at their grow house. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour noted the scope of the grow operation as he imposed the prison sentences.
TON CHI DUONG, 60, of Kent, Washington was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release for Manufacturing Marijuana. At DUONG’s home at 3421 S. 263rd St., Kent, officers found 660 marijuana plants, packaged marijuana, and a Ruger .22 caliber firearm that had been reported stolen.
BAO V. DUONG, 54, of Federal Way, Washington, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and four years of supervised release for Manufacturing Marijuana. At DUONG’s home at 29914 26th Avenue South, Federal Way, officers discovered 850 plants in two bedrooms and the basement. When the home was searched on September 10, 2008, officers discovered an unloaded AK-47 assault rifle.
HOI VAN NGO, 41, of Des Moines, Washington, was sentenced to18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Manufacturing Marijuana. At NGO’s home at 1614 South 258th Street, Des Moines, officers seized 305 marijuana plants and manufacturing and processing equipment. NGO told officers he was being paid $5,000 per month to tend the plants.
DUNG DUONG, 31, of Kent, Washington, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Manufacturing Marijuana. At DUONG’s home at 3611 S. 294th St., Kent, officers found 341 plants and 539 clones of marijuana plants as well as packaging material and more than $11,000 in cash.
FRANK VUU, 48, of Kent, Washington, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Manufacturing Marijuana. At VUU’s home at 10126 SE 248th St., Kent, officers found 404 marijuana plants and processed marijuana. The home and a guest house on the property behind the home were used solely for the manufacture of marijuana.
The houses were all searched on September 10, 2008, when law enforcement officers executed warrants at thirteen homes in the South King County region. Three additional defendants have been charged in the case. One of those defendants has entered a guilty plea and will be sentenced next month.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area ( HIDTA ) Task Force composed of agents and officers from DEA, Auburn Police Department, Tukwila Police Department, Renton Police Department, Kent Police Department, Port of Seattle Police Department and Federal Way Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Brown.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at ( 206 ) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.
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