Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL KWAN, age 33, and TRAM HOANG NGUYEN, age 31, both of Westwego, were charged last week in a four-count Indictment with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the Indictment, KWAN conspired to distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and steroids. KWAN and NGUYEN also are charged with having conspired to launder the drug trafficking proceeds.
If convicted on the marijuana conspiracy charge, KWAN faces a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years and up to life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. If convicted of possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, KWAN faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Additionally, if convicted of possessing with intent to distribute steroids, KWAN faces a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $500,000, and at least two years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering, KWAN and NGUYEN both face terms of imprisonment of up to 20 years, fines of the greater of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the illicit transactions, and up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of each defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas D. Moses and Jeffrey Sandman are in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
