Treiu Thuy Duong, Alpha-PVP Distribution, Pennsylvania 2013

**Bath Salts Kingpin Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison**

Treiu Thuy Duong, a 38-year-old woman from Texas, has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for her role in a massive bath salts distribution operation in northeastern Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

According to investigators, Duong supplied approximately 10 kilograms of alpha-pvp, commonly known as ‘bath salts,’ to customers in Luzerne County and other locations during 2013-2014. The synthetic stimulant was sold as a legal alternative to cocaine and other illicit substances.

Duong, who later moved to Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to distribute the illicit substance. As part of her plea, she acknowledged distributing the 10 kilograms of bath salts. Some of her customers and sub-distributors resided in Luzerne County.

The sentence was upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals after Duong claimed that the 70-month prison sentence was unreasonable. However, the appeals court ruled that U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion appropriately considered Duong’s personal circumstances and engaged in a ‘thorough analysis’ of all relevant factors in imposing the sentence.

As part of her sentence, Duong forfeited to the government her interest in a residence in Texas valued at approximately $300,000, coins valued at more than $260,000, four bank accounts containing over $200,000, two vehicles, over $7,000 in cash, more than $17,000 in uncashed money orders, and two firearms.

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the West Pittston Police. Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case and handled the appeal.

More than 12 persons connected to the bath salts distribution operation have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison. Duong’s sentence serves as a warning to those involved in this type of illicit activity.

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