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Six Men Charged in $5M Marijuana Conspiracy
A federal grand jury in Louisiana has indicted six men, including five Chinese nationals, for their alleged roles in a massive marijuana conspiracy and interstate travel crimes. The indictment, unsealed on June 4, 2025, charges HANJIE WU, 25, YILEI ZHOU, 35, ZIHANG ZENG, 24, LIKE CHEN, 34, WEI BIN CHEN, 34, and AARON STEELE, 45, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.
According to court documents, the defendants were part of a large-scale marijuana distribution operation that spanned Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The indictment alleges that WU, ZHOU, STEELE, WEI BIN CHEN, LIKE CHEN, and ZENG conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
The indictment also charges WU and STEELE with traveling between Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi with the intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate the unlawful activity of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3).
If convicted of the drug conspiracy count, WU, ZHOU, STEELE, WEI BIN CHEN, LIKE CHEN, and ZENG face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years, up to a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
For the interstate travel in aid of racketeering count, WU and STEELE face a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, and the Picayune, Mississippi Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys André Jones and Nolan D. Paige of the Narcotics Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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