Press Release
Two Men Plead Guilty in Methamphetamine-Trafficking Conspiracy
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TRUNG PHAM, age 38, of Los Angeles, California, and TOMMY WELLS, age 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty today to participating in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy throughout the New Orleans area. Specifically, PHAM pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and WELLS pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in 2016, PHAM was a California-based drug trafficker who was sending parcels of methamphetamine via common carriers to codefendant STEVEN LYONS in New Orleans. LYONS would then sell quantities of methamphetamine to WELLS and others, who would redistribute the methamphetamine in the New Orleans area. LYONS previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1, 2017.
For his role in the conspiracy, PHAM faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum life sentence, a fine of up to $10,000,000 and at least five years of supervised release. WELLS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set sentencing for PHAM and WELLS on November 15, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Louisiana State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration - New Orleans Division Office, and the New Orleans Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Long is in charge of the prosecution.
Updated August 24, 2017
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component