A Minnesota Multi-Phase Investigation Exposed And Eliminated High Ranking Members Of A Drug Trafficking Organization

AUG 19 -- (Minneapolis) - A 35-year-old Crystal, Minnesota man was sentenced earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis for distributing more than 1,000 tablets of the semi-synthetic psychedelic drug MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy. United States District Court Judge John Tunheim sentenced Teung Phimpradapsy to 51 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to distribute ecstasy. Phimpradapsy was indicted on December 16, 2009, and pleaded guilty on April 8, 2010.

In his plea agreement, Phimpradapsy admitted that in April of 2009, he conspired to distribute 1,300 tablets (395 grams) of Ecstasy. Specifically, on April 14, 2009, he sold Ecstasy to a drug dealer, who, in turn, sold 1,000 tablets of the drug to law enforcement during an undercover controlled buy. Phimpradapsy also admitted that on each of three later dates, he sold 100 tablets of the drug.

Following today’s sentencing, Dan Moren, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Minneapolis office, said, “Ecstasy is of special concern because it is specifically marketed by drug traffickers to our adolescents and young adults disguised to look like candy. The jointly led and multi-phase investigation exposed and eliminated high ranking members of a drug trafficking organization linked to a known street gang attempting to introduce large quantities of Ecstasy into the Twin Cities area. DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the youth of Minnesota from the devastating effects of drugs and violence.”

This case was the result of an investigation by the DEA and the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.