Convicted Felons Operating Grow House In San Leandro, Illegally Possessing Firearms Sentenced To 72 Months And 87 Months In Prison

OAKLAND, Calif. – Today, Van Do Nguyen was sentenced to 72 months in prison and Loc Huynh was sentenced to 87 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and being felons in possession of firearms, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Huynh and Nguyen were arrested on Jan. 10, 2012, after complaints from citizens led to an investigation by the San Leandro Police Department. Huynh pled guilty on Oct. 31, 2012, and Nguyen pled guilty on Nov. 7, 2012.

In their plea agreements, Huynh and Nguyen admitted that from August 2011 through January 2012, they operated a marijuana grow house at 3471 Carrillo Drive in San Leandro, Calif. They were found in possession of 82 mature marijuana plants, almost one kilogram of marijuana packaged for sale, a Norinco US 7.62 caliber rifle with a high capacity magazine, a Romak-Romarm 7.62 caliber assault rifle that had been stolen, and a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol. Nguyen admitted that he also possessed a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol. In addition, approximately $10,000 in cash, a 9mm Bryco Arms semiautomatic pistol, and more than 100 rounds of various caliber ammunition were found at 3471 Carrillo Drive and seized by law enforcement.

Nguyen, 27, of Alameda, Calif., had previously been convicted in 2005 for carrying a loaded firearm in public. Huynh, 20, of Oakland, had been convicted in 2011 for assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm.

The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton who also sentenced the defendants to three-year periods of supervised release. Nguyen and Huynh were indicted, with others, by a federal grand jury on June 7, 2012. Co-defendant Vincent Nguyen pled guilty on Oct. 31, 2012, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2013.

Brian C. Lewis is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Janice Pagsanjan. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.