United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS THREE AMARILLO RESIDENTS IN
METHAMPHETAMINE CONSPIRACY

AMARILLO, Tx. --- Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson in Amarillo, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts this afternoon against three defendants for their role in an elaborate methamphetamine organization that operated out of Amarillo, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas.

The lead defendant in the case, Sitthiphone Phengsengkham a/k/a “Teddy Phengsengkham, 29, and his brother, co-defendant, Itthison Phengsengkham, a/k/a Eddy Phengsengkham, 35, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit a drug offense and one count of money laundering conspiracy. They each face a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Co-defendant Tuan Anh Tran, was convicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Defendant Stephanie Feng Tran, who was also charged with one count of money laundering, was acquitted.

The government presented evidence at trial that from January 1, 2004 to February 15, 2007, the defendants conspired together to conduct financial transactions involving illegal drug proceeds in order to arrange for, and facilitate the ongoing purchase, storage, transportation, sale and distribution of controlled substances, the ongoing distribution of currency derived from this illegal activity, and the concealment and disguise of the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illegal drug proceeds.

A total of 24 defendants were charged in this case, U.S. v. Sitthiphone Phengsengkham, a/k/a “Teddy Phengsengkham,” et al. Many of the defendants in this case were arrested in an early-morning round up on February 15, 2007, which was the culmination of an investigation that began several years ago. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office in Amarillo, as well as the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, the Randall County Sheriff’s Office, the Odam  County Sheriff’s Office, the Amarillo Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, worked undercover in a joint effort to arrest major drug distributors. During the course of the investigation, approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of more than $700,000, was seized, along with more than $300,000 in U.S. currency and various firearms.

The government presented evidence at trial that co-defendants in the case, Thongfoth and Pathoupone Phengsengkham, the parents of Eddy and Teddy Phengsengkham, owned a motel where the drug organization was headquartered. They pled guilty shortly before trial. In fact, all defendants charged in the case, have pled guilty to charges stemming from their role in the organization, and are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the DEA, the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, the Randall County Sheriff’s Office, the Odam County Sheriff’s Office, the Amarillo Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Lamberson of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

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