Biloxi Resident Sentenced to Almost Nine Years in Prison for Trafficking in Marijuana and Illegally Possessing Firearm

Gulfport, Miss. – Duy-Sang Sam Nguyen, 19, of Biloxi, was sentenced on December 6, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to a total of 106 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempting to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans. Nguyen was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $7,500.00.

On June 6, 2018, FedEx Corporate Security notified Customs and Border Patrol about a suspicious package emitting a strong smell of marijuana. Upon opening the package, marijuana was located. The package was shipped to a home in Biloxi, Mississippi. On the same date, agents learned about another suspicious package shipping from the same address but destined for another home in Biloxi. Agents were able to intercept the second package and located more marijuana. Agents organized a controlled delivery of one of the packages. A female, later identified as Nguyen’s sister, took the package inside the home. Law enforcement detained Nguyen’s sister and she admitted that she picked up numerous packages for her brother. Upon learning this information, agents went to Nguyen’s home and he confessed to receiving at least four packages every month of marijuana from California. Nguyen further admitted to having an AR-15 in his bedroom and more marijuana. Agents located the AR-15, which was later forfeited. In total, agents determined that Nguyen was involved with at least 150 kilograms of marijuana being shipped to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Nguyen was indicted on May 2, 2018. On August 22, 2018, he pled guilty to attempting to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Biloxi Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.