OKLAHOMA CITY – Eight Chinese nationals have received federal prison sentences for their roles in a black market marijuana trafficking operation that illegally shipped at least 28 tons of marijuana to the East Coast.
In May 2023 the FBI raided a marijuana farm near Wetumka that was licensed by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, and confiscated 19,661 plants and 430 pounds of processed or loose marijuana. FBI agenda also discovered more than $100,000 in vacuum- sealed cash hidden in a closet attic space, and seized a pistol on the premises.
Evidence presented at trial indicated that between December 2022 and May 2023, Jeff Weng, 47, of China and Brooklyn, New York, managed the marijuana grow, and a “distant cousin,” Tong Lin, 29, of China, managed matters when Weng was not present. A federal grand jury charged the two with conspiracy to possess marijuana plants with intent to distribute. After a two-day trial a federal jury deliberated about an hour on Jan. 18, 2024, before convicting Weng and Lin of drug conspiracy.
Each was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Also, both were ordered to forfeit “all right, title and interest” to the Wetumka farm and to $104,281 in U.S. currency that investigators seized.
Weng filed notice on Dec. 23 that he intends to appeal his conviction to the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
A key witness against Weng and Lin was Brandon Ye, 44, who owned a company in Oklahoma City that made kitchen counters and cabinets.
Appearing for the prosecution, Ye testified that he collected marijuana from 20 different Oklahoma grow operations for shipment out of state; he said he was paid $15 per pound. All of those marijuana farms were operated by Chinese nationals, Ye testified through a translator.
Testimony revealed that the drug conspirators drove delivery vans disguised as commercial vehicles, including one that appeared to be an Amazon delivery van, to the Wetumka marijuana farm 10 to 15 times between December 2022 and March 31, 2023.
Between 150 and 200 pounds of marijuana were picked up each time from the Wetumka grow, and Lin helped load the fake Amazon delivery van with the marijuana, jurors were told.
Ye testified that the marijuana was transported to a “stash house” in northwest Oklahoma City, and every Friday the marijuana was moved from the stash house to a warehouse at his business, Arch Granite & Cabinetry in Oklahoma City.
There, more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana at a time were loaded into a semi-truck trailer, which transported the marijuana from Oklahoma City to the East Coast. Over approximately seven months, upwards of 56,000 pounds of marijuana – 28 tons – were transported out of Oklahoma via semi-truck.
State law decrees that medical cannabis grown in Oklahoma can be sold/distributed only in Oklahoma (by licensed businesses).
6 co-conspirators pleaded guilty Ye, who was born in China but said he has lived in the U.S. since 2000, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime.
He was sentenced in June 2024 to nine years in federal prison. In addition, he agreed to forfeit property he owned, including the stash house in Oklahoma City, a 2018 Tesla sedan, the 2018 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter van disguised as an Amazon delivery vehicle, a 2021 Ford van, a 2019 Ford F-250 pickup, a 9mm pistol, and $98,901 cash.
Five other Chinese nationals also admitted they participated in the illicit marijuana distribution operation.
• Andy Zheng, 52, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.
He also forfeited “any right, title or interest” to a house in Oklahoma City, the Tesla sedan, the Mercedes-Benz van, the Ford van, the Ford pickup, a 2017 Freightliner semi-truck, a 2015 Hyundai trailer, and $45,000 in U.S. currency.
• Shulong Luo, 35, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, and forfeited “any right, title or interest” to the Freightliner semitruck.
• Mingxuan Xie, 36, was driving a semi-trailer truck that was stopped on Feb. 22, 2023, by Indiana state police who seized 2,700 pounds of marijuana that were traced to Ye’s Arch Granite & Cabinetry store in Oklahoma City.
A federal judge ordered U.S. Marshals to retrieve Xie from Indiana and deliver him to the Oklahoma City federal court, where he was sentenced Oct. 23, 2024, to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to participating in a drug conspiracy.
• Le Xu, 36, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; forfeited “any right, title or interest” to a 2019 Dodge commercial van and $53,424 cash; and was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.
• Hui Chen, 43, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; agreed to forfeit right, title or interest to the Oklahoma City house, the vehicles, and approximately $45,000 cash the government seized during its investigation; and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.