Fugitive from Justice Sentenced to Federal Prison on Meth Conspiracy, Possession of Firearm and Failure to Appear Convictions

The following press release was published by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys on May 13, 2016. It is reproduced in full below.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine, possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and fled prosecution was sentenced May 10, 2016, to more than 13 years in federal prison.

Somsock Senlouangrat, 45, from Tacoma, Washington, received the prison term after a Jan. 11, 2016, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and failure to appear.

At the guilty plea, Senlouangrat admitted that in September 2003, he and Daosadeth Keophounsouk were stopped by law enforcement in Monona County, Iowa. At the time, Senlouangrat and Keophounsouk were transporting approximately two pounds of methamphetamine from California to Minnesota for further distribution. Also located in the vehicle was a Smith and Wesson handgun Senlouangrat had purchased for their protection during the transport of methamphetamine. Senlouangrat further admitted to absconding from pretrial supervision sometime during November 2003 until his apprehension by the United States Marshals Service on June 19, 2015 in Tacoma, Washington.

Senlouangrat was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Senlouangrat was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $300 was imposed. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Senlouangrat is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 16-4001 and 03-4106.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys