United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano and United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Tony Le, 55, Minh Le, 36, and Cuong Le, 43, all of Sacramento were sentenced today by United States District Judge William B. Shubb for their involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. Co-defendant Tien Le, 47, was recently found guilty after a six-day jury trial in this same case.

Judge Shubb imposed the following sentences today:
Tony Le - 48 months in prison
Cuong Le - 51 months in prison
Minh Le - 46 months in prison

Tien Le is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2013, by United States District Judge William B. Shubb. He faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

According to court documents, the conspiracy involved the Le brothers purchasing high-end homes in Auburn, Foresthill, Cameron Park, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills for the purpose of installing large-scale indoor marijuana grows.  The homes had large basements ideal for growing large amounts of marijuana. 

This case was the product of an extensive investigation by the DEA’s Sacramento District Office, the Internal Revenue Service, Placer County Sheriff’s Department, Auburn Police Department, and the Elk Grove Police Department.  It was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.