Man Sentenced for Role in Large Scale Marijuana Conspiracy

A man who helped transport 1,500 pounds of marijuana from California to sell in Tulsa was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Chief U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell sentenced Kong Meng Vang, 36, of Tulsa, to time served and two years of supervised release. As a condition of his supervised release, he must serve four months of home detention.

“Kong Meng Vang chose to transport and deal massive amounts of marijuana in the Tulsa area. Now, unsurprisingly, he has been held accountable by the criminal justice system. That is a common path for those who choose to participate in the illegal drug business,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The Tulsa Police Department broke this case wide open. And thanks to the unified effort of those officers, the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals, we dismantled a multi-state illicit marijuana network.”

In August 2018, Vang pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and money laundering. The defendant admitted to transporting 1,500 pounds of marijuana from California to sell in the Tulsa area. As part of the plea agreement, the United States and Vang agreed to the forfeiture of 21 of the defendant’s vehicles along with seven residences, firearms and ammunition.

This case resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Tulsa Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Department of Treasury, IRS-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph F. Wilson prosecuted the case as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.