9 suburbanites busted in massive pot-growing operation

Last update: May 20, 2008 - 8:22 AM

Nine Twin Cities suburbanites have been indicted in what federal authorities say could be Minnesota's largest indoor marijuana growing operation.

Investigators contend that the defendants conspired to produce thousands of marijuana plants from August 2007 to last month in what Dan Moren of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration termed "a sophisticated indoor marijuana growing and distribution organization."

Those charged are: Tung Nguyen, 34, of Bloomington; Thin Do, 30, of Bloomington; Nam Nguyen, 32, of Roseville; Thuong Nguyen, 45, of Brooklyn Park; Lai Pham, 36, of Shakopee; Sonny Pham, 44, of Eagan; Hung Le, 48, of Maplewood; Christian Pham, 33, of Brooklyn Park; and Tuan Dang, 31, of Inver Grove Heights. Christian Pham and Le were arrested Monday.

In searches of eight residences, authorities recovered more than 4,900 marijuana plants and other evidence of marijuana cultivation. Also, more than $31,000 in cash was recovered at a home in Brooklyn Park.

--PAUL WALSH

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