Pubdate: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 Source: Shakopee Valley News (MN) Copyright: 2008 Southwest Newspapers Contact: http://www.shakopeenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4672 Author: Pat Minelli Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) CITY MAN GUILTY IN LARGEST STATE MARIJUANA OPERATION IN HISTORY MINNEAPOLIS - A Shakopee man who was the last defendant remaining at trial connected to what may be the largest indoor marijuana-growing operation in Minnesota history was convicted Tuesday in federal court. After nearly three hours of deliberation, a jury found Lai Pham, 36, guilty on one count of conspiracy to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants. During the trial on Dec. 8, two other defendants, Tung Nguyen, 34, Bloomington, and Tuan Dang, 32, Inver Grove Heights, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. Prior to the seven-day trial, six other defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. They are: Thin Do, 31, Bloomington; Nam Nguyen, 33, Roseville; Thuong Nguyen, 45, Brooklyn Park; Sonny Pham, 44, Eagan; Hung Le, 48, Maplewood; and Christian Pham, 33, Brooklyn Park. All nine defendants were indicted on May 6. " Our office is pleased with this verdict and plea agreements," said U.S. Attorney Frank J. Magill. "This was considered by many agents to be the largest indoor marijuana grow operation in Minnesota's history, one comparable to those in other parts of the country, and we are proud to have prosecuted this case. It was the result of the tremendous efforts of all of our law enforcement partners, and we thank them." Their indictment stated that from August 2007 through April 11, 2008, the nine defendants conspired with one another and others to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants. During the April 10 arrests, authorities seized more than 5,963 marijuana plants during the execution of 18 federal search warrants in the Twin Cities. Eight grow houses were discovered at two residences in Maplewood and single residences in Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights and Lakeville. In October 2007, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Brooklyn Park that produced evidence linked to the conspiracy. As a result, more than 7,000 marijuana plants were seized in connection with this conspiracy. Evidence presented during the trial showed that each of the residences involved was utilizing a rotating crop schedule in order to have multiple harvests in one year. The jury heard evidence that it cost on average $25,000 to set up an indoor grow operation. A marijuana grow house that harvests 1,000 plants in a given year could result in more than $1 million profit. " The multiple arrests, drug, and asset seizures that occurred in this investigation are attributed to the outstanding law enforcement partnerships between DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration], West Hennepin County Drug Task Force, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit, United States Attorney's Office, and other participating federal, state, and local agencies," said Dan Moren, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Minneapolis District Office. "The efforts of this significant enforcement operation, orchestrated by the partner agencies, have dismantled a sophisticated indoor marijuana growing and distribution organization." The defendants each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. U. S. District Court Chief Judge Michael Davis will sentence the defendants at a date not determined. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin