Tan Minh Vo, Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy, California 2023

FRESNO, Calif. — A San Jose man has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for his role in a marijuana distribution conspiracy.

Tan Minh Vo, 50, of San Jose, was sentenced today for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana that was shipped from Fresno for distribution in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in November 2018, Vo and his co-defendants coordinated the shipment of nearly 500 pounds of marijuana to a recipient in Kansas City. The first shipment was seized during a traffic stop after Vo’s courier delivered 92 pounds of marijuana to the recipient in two suitcases at a hotel in Kansas City.

Later, agents intercepted calls between Vo and his co-defendants, including Madera’s Patrick Maldonado, Fresno’s Elias Zambrano, Jr., and Kansas City’s David Agustus McGowan, in which they discussed the shipment of another load of marijuana to Kansas City. That load was intercepted by Arizona troopers after they stopped McGowan’s truck for nonfunctioning tail lights. During a search of the trailer, troopers found 384 pounds of marijuana and $1,629 in cash in a hidden compartment.

Following these seizures, agents executed search warrants at Vo’s residence and place of business in San Jose, as well as Maldonado’s residence in Madera and Zambrano’s residence in Fresno. At Vo’s residence, agents found $24,700 and another $20,000 in cash on Vo’s person, which represented proceeds derived from drug trafficking. At his place of business, FIND-BUY-ITEMS, agents found 70 pounds of marijuana and indoor marijuana cultivation equipment.

Vo’s co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy. Maldonado was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Zambrano and Frazier, who received marijuana in Kansas City, were sentenced to two years and three months in prison. The charges against McGowan are pending.

The case is the product of an investigation by the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, which consists of agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sheriff’s Offices of Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties, the Fresno Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Kansas City Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.

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