FEDS FILE COMPLAINT IN SUBURBAN POT BUST
Five in Family Named In Federal Charges;
Two Have Identical Name;
All Have Same Last Name
Informant Deals in Grow Lights
Two Have Identical Name;
All Have Same Last Name
Informant Deals in Grow Lights
Special to the readers of milwaukeeworld.com
A MilwaukeeWorld Hound Dog Team Investigative Report
By Michael Horne
Yesterday's report here at milwaukeeworld noted an ownership connection among the suburban homes raided in a large scale marijuana growing operation. The names of the arrestees have been released, and two of the folks from yesterday's report are listed as the ringleaders of the operation.
The arrested are:
A MilwaukeeWorld Hound Dog Team Investigative Report
By Michael Horne
Yesterday's report here at milwaukeeworld noted an ownership connection among the suburban homes raided in a large scale marijuana growing operation. The names of the arrestees have been released, and two of the folks from yesterday's report are listed as the ringleaders of the operation.
The arrested are:
Steve Dinh Nguyen (D.O.B. 01/01/1961)
Timothy V. Nguyen (D.O.B. 01/01/1970)
Michelle L. Nguyen (D.O.B. 07/20/1971)
Thanh Van Nguyen (D.O.B. 05/05/1956)
Thanh Van Nguyen (D.O.B. 07/20/1957)
Timothy V. Nguyen (D.O.B. 01/01/1970)
Michelle L. Nguyen (D.O.B. 07/20/1971)
Thanh Van Nguyen (D.O.B. 05/05/1956)
Thanh Van Nguyen (D.O.B. 07/20/1957)
According to the complaint of Special Agent Kenneth N. Darling of the Drug Enforcement Administration sworn before Patricia J. Gorence, [Marquette'77] U.S. Magistrate Judge at Milwaukee on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008, "the above-named individuals did knowingly and intentionally conspire to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute in excess of 100 Marijuana plants, a Schedule I controlled substance, in violation of Title 21 U.S. Code sections 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)."
Darling has been a special agent for eight years, and has spent 94 months "exclusively working drug investigations" in the DEA Milwaukee District Office. His affidavit includes information from the Racine, Franklin and Oak Creek Police Departments, the DEA and "reliable confidential informants.'
Darling says an Oak Creek citizen who wishes to remain anonymous observed "Asian male subjects carrying numerous items into the house [at 2155 E. Ash Ct.] that are very commonly used in the manufacture of marijuana." The items included large plant pots, very large lights, fans and potting soil; the observations were made in the past eight weeks. The citizen observer said occupants would come to the residence for a short time and leave for the day; nobody was observed living in the residence.
Oak Creek officer Jason Baranek visited the residence and noticed that the soil was not used in the yard. Sometime last week he noticed mold growing on the house, built in January, 2007, and that the exterior nails on the house were rusting. "This observation is consistent with the high moisture levels associated with an indoor marijuana grow." Baranek also noticed some open windows in the residence during a period of snow and rain. As the DEA's Darling notes, "large marijuana grows require a fresh supply of outdoor fresh air that is necessary to exchange carbon dioxide with the oxygen given off by the growing plants."
Darling has been a special agent for eight years, and has spent 94 months "exclusively working drug investigations" in the DEA Milwaukee District Office. His affidavit includes information from the Racine, Franklin and Oak Creek Police Departments, the DEA and "reliable confidential informants.'
Darling says an Oak Creek citizen who wishes to remain anonymous observed "Asian male subjects carrying numerous items into the house [at 2155 E. Ash Ct.] that are very commonly used in the manufacture of marijuana." The items included large plant pots, very large lights, fans and potting soil; the observations were made in the past eight weeks. The citizen observer said occupants would come to the residence for a short time and leave for the day; nobody was observed living in the residence.
Oak Creek officer Jason Baranek visited the residence and noticed that the soil was not used in the yard. Sometime last week he noticed mold growing on the house, built in January, 2007, and that the exterior nails on the house were rusting. "This observation is consistent with the high moisture levels associated with an indoor marijuana grow." Baranek also noticed some open windows in the residence during a period of snow and rain. As the DEA's Darling notes, "large marijuana grows require a fresh supply of outdoor fresh air that is necessary to exchange carbon dioxide with the oxygen given off by the growing plants."
Darling consulted with Special Agents Enrique Carton of Milwaukee and Phillip Bernal of Philadelphia. Carton identified Thanh Van Nguyen (05/05/1956) as "a possible leader and grow operations controller of marijuana."
Darling goes on to say that through DEA reports he was able to learn that in December, 2006 and January, 2007 that Thanh Van Nguyen and Thuy Phuong Nguyen "purchased $18,737 worth of equipment from the DEA informant. ... Contained in these orders were 40 ballast sets used for indoor grow operations. ... The DEA informant has provided information that has directly and indirectly led to the arrest of approximately 15 individuals, the seizure of over $1 million in assets to include approximately $750,000 in cash; and over 6,000 marijuana plants from approximately 12 grow houses (approximately 15 search warrants.)"
(Emphasis added.)
[Moral -- The grow light business model seems quite sound. High demand, a legal product, nice profit margins, and you can always make an extra buck turning your customers over to the Feds! Uncle Sam might even give you the money to set up shop! Maybe he's even running the thing! From what I can tell, the lights and the informant are based in Pennsylvania. See Old Dominion Freight Company shipment Tracking # 7103493891. --Ed.]
The affidavit goes on to outline how police observed vehicles arriving and departing from the residence, how officials placed GPS trackers on the vehicles, how they subpoenaed bank and utility records, and how the busts eventually came down.
It all makes for jolly good reading, and is appended here for you.
Darling goes on to say that through DEA reports he was able to learn that in December, 2006 and January, 2007 that Thanh Van Nguyen and Thuy Phuong Nguyen "purchased $18,737 worth of equipment from the DEA informant. ... Contained in these orders were 40 ballast sets used for indoor grow operations. ... The DEA informant has provided information that has directly and indirectly led to the arrest of approximately 15 individuals, the seizure of over $1 million in assets to include approximately $750,000 in cash; and over 6,000 marijuana plants from approximately 12 grow houses (approximately 15 search warrants.)"
(Emphasis added.)
[Moral -- The grow light business model seems quite sound. High demand, a legal product, nice profit margins, and you can always make an extra buck turning your customers over to the Feds! Uncle Sam might even give you the money to set up shop! Maybe he's even running the thing! From what I can tell, the lights and the informant are based in Pennsylvania. See Old Dominion Freight Company shipment Tracking # 7103493891. --Ed.]
The affidavit goes on to outline how police observed vehicles arriving and departing from the residence, how officials placed GPS trackers on the vehicles, how they subpoenaed bank and utility records, and how the busts eventually came down.
It all makes for jolly good reading, and is appended here for you.
posted by Michael Horne @ 1:35 PM
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