ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Cuong Huynh, 31, a Washington, D.C. man and self-proclaimed leader of the Asian Dragon Family street gang, was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison for orchestrating a sprawling marijuana trafficking conspiracy that flooded the D.C. metro area with over 100 kilograms of the drug over two years.
Under Huynh’s command, the ring operated like a criminal enterprise: he maintained multiple wholesale suppliers, directed distribution, and relied on trusted associates to move product and collect cash. The operation generated tens of thousands of dollars in illicit profits, often stored by his girlfriend, Victoria Nguyen, who safeguarded the cash for reinvestment into bulk purchases. Authorities say the influx of untraceable cash elevated the risk of armed robbery and violence in surrounding communities.
Victoria Nguyen was sentenced to two years in prison on April 5 for her role in concealing proceeds. Nikco Nguyen and Michael Ngo, both members of the Asian Dragon Family, were sentenced April 12 to 30 months and 24 months, respectively, for distributing marijuana, collecting cash, and repackaging bulk shipments for street-level sale.
“This case illustrates certain dangers posed by organized criminal gangs: They have a built in distribution network, a division of labor and development of expertise by tasking their membership, and as a result they have the ability to move large quantities of narcotics,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Here, the distribution of marijuana resulted in the generation of thousands of dollars of illicit profit—cash—which generally serves as a dinner bell for armed robbers and can easily result in violent conflict and collateral injury to innocent bystanders. Thank you to our law enforcement partners who bravely continue to assist in our efforts in thwart drug trafficking and bring those perpetrators to justice.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our task force partners who work each day to identify individuals who are injecting drugs into our communities and leading criminal organizations,” said Matthew J. DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division. “Thank you to our partners for their continued support in tackling organized crime and bringing those responsible to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, which includes federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Munasifi and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Fitzpatrick. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema handed down the sentence. Court records are available in Case No. 1:19-cr-12 via the Eastern District of Virginia’s public docket or PACER.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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