Appeals Court Upholds 70-Month Prison Sentence For Bath Salts Distributor

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed the 70-month prison sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion on Treiu Thuy Duong, age 38, who supplied approximately 10 kilograms of alpha-pvp—commonly known as “bath salts”—to customers in northeastern Pennsylvania and elsewhere during 2013-2014.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Duong, who resided in Texas at the time of the offense and later moved to Florida, claimed on appeal that her 70-month prison sentence was unreasonable.

Duong previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others from Luzerne County and elsewhere, to distribute alpha-pvp. Duong in her plea acknowledged distributing approximately 10 kilograms of bath salts. Some of Duong’s customers and sub-distributors resided in Luzerne County.

In upholding the sentence, the appeals court reasoned that Judge Mannion appropriately considered the defendant’s personal circumstances and engaged in a “thorough analysis” of all other relevant factors in imposing the sentence.

As part of her sentence, the defendant forfeited to the government her interest in a residence in Texas valued at approximately $300,000, coins valued at more than $260,000, four bank accounts containing over $200,000, two vehicles, over $7,000 in cash, more than $17,000 in uncashed money orders, and two firearms.

More than 12 persons connected to the bath salts distribution operation have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the West Pittston Police. Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case and handled the appeal.

# # #