Vietnamese National Sentenced for Role in Marijuana Conspiracy

BOSTON – A Vietnamese national was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for her role in an extensive marijuana conspiracy operating out of central Massachusetts.

Nhi Le, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 28 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On June 30, 2017, Le was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of manufacturing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana; and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises.

From approximately October 2011 through September 2013, Le and seven others were involved in a marijuana conspiracy operating out of six grow houses in Worcester, Webster, Douglas and Leicester.  In September 2013, when law enforcement executed multiple search warrants, they seized over 1200 marijuana plants valued at over $1 million. 

An elaborate indoor marijuana growing operation,185 marijuana plants, and over $100,000 in cash were discovered during a search at Le’s residence in Webster.  Evidence at trial demonstrated that Le had paid over $17,000 in cash for an Audi SUV less than two months prior to the execution of the search warrants and had over $3,700 in her purse, despite being unemployed. 

Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Webster Police Chief Timothy J. Bent; Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent; Douglas Police Chief Patrick T. Foley; Oxford Police Chief Anthony Saad; Paxton Police Chief Robert Desrosiers; and Leominster Interim Police Chief Michael Goldman made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.