Tu Hoang Dinh, Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering, Texas 2023

Austin Man Accused of Dark Web Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering

A 38-year-old Round Rock resident was denied bond in a federal court on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, after pleading not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy via the Dark Web.

Tu Hoang Dinh, a Round Rock resident, was charged with one count of conspiracy to import and possess with intent to deliver controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The indictment, brought forth by a federal grand jury, alleges that Dinh has conspired with others since 2018 to import and distribute THC, LSD, and MDMA (Ecstasy) under the business name “ATXGreen”.

The indictment also claims that Dinh used various digital payment platforms, including Venmo, PayPal, Square, and Zelle, to accept payments for his illicit activities. Furthermore, it is alleged that he utilized the proceeds from his narcotics distribution to purchase two vehicles and pay his property taxes in Williamson County.

Upon conviction, Dinh faces between 10 years and life in federal prison for the drug conspiracy and up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering conspiracy.

The investigation, which lasted 16 months, was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Round Rock Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Marshall and Robert Almonte are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is essential to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Dinh is currently being held in federal custody, awaiting further court proceedings.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/federal-judge-denies-bond-alleged-round-rock-based-drug-trafficker-and-money-launderer