Several Viet businesses in the Spokane area were fronts for a multimillion dollar drug ring busted by federal agents, reports the Seattle Times here and the Spokane-Review here.
And they would have continued their marijuana trafficking, if it weren’t for a single-vehicle crash that brought the ring, already under suspicion, to the fore.
At the center is Luyen V. “John” Doan, who’s been held in Spokane County Jail since February. Last week, Doan pleaded guilty to federal drug and investment charges and will give up more than 15 properties in Stevens, Spokane and Kootenai counties, including a home on Diamond Lake, a boat and a 2007 Mercedes-Benz.
He’s not the only one. Of the 30 people charged in the case, 18 have pleaded guilty and will cooperate in federal trials of the others. The Seattle Times reports:
“Federal prosecutors say Doan, 43, headed a drug operation that distributed thousands of pounds of marijuana throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.
“As his wealth accumulated, documents allege, Doan removed himself from the drug ring, employing dealers through businesses he owned or invested in, such as Lefty’s Steakhouse and Sports, the Teriyaki House, and Trick Shot Dixie Outlaw Saloon and BBQ [pictured].”
Doan himself is listed as an employee of Lefty’s Steakhouse and Sports.
These businesses employ other Viets to do the dirty work.
One of them, David P. Dang, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. He used to work in the VIP room at Trick Shot Dixie’s, “which was often used for the consumption of controlled substances,” according to a plea agreement filed in court.
Another who pleaded was Jonathan Tri Duc Nguyen, a cousin of Doan’s. He pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to distribute 1,000 or more kilograms of marijuana and investment of illicit drug profits.
Four men thought to be involved in the drug ring are still at large, among them, Thuc C. Le, an investor in Lefty’s.
Doan, Nguyen and Le are thought to be the leaders. Tips from arrested drug dealers alerted DEA to the three in 2004. By spring 2008, federal agents were monitoring their phone calls.
Nguyen is thought to be the one who supplied weed to the people involved in the car crash.
In February 2007, two men were driving west on I-90 near the Spokane County line when they crashed. State troopers found $130,000 in cash in a paper bag near the site.
The men, Trong V. Nguyen and Somxay Phimmasanh, were arrested four months later in Montana after they sold marijuana to a federal agent.
Those people are stupid ! If I was a drug dealer, I wouldn’t name my business “Trick Shot Dixie Outlaw Saloon”.
For an “outlaw” to use the word “Outlaw” in the store name would draw law enforcers’ attention.
^ So, it was the word “Outlaw” that drew the law’s attention?
Seriously?
Finally we have some real businesses going.
The federal agents are stupid and took them so long to find out.
Just go to Little Saigon and look for the ones in brand new BMW, MBZ and have no jobs to find out what they are doing.
There are many in Korean towns, China towns too, so it is not just he VIetnamese, only stupid,irnorant Americans do not know.
It has been going for years in Orange County, and Los Angeles County.
James; How do you know the ONES driving BMW, MBZ got no JOBS just by looking at them. You got a psychic ability to sniff them out? Let us know, we really wanna learn.
could any one tell me if DINA NGUYEN’S BROTHER HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IS ONE TOOO?