San Diego Newsroom

San Diego, California - Three federal indictments unsealed in San Diego Wednesday charge 20 people, including documented gang members and associates, with trafficking in oxycodone, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and ultra-deadly carfentanil from homes in City Heights, College Grove and Imperial Beach.

One defendant, Dat Pham Tien Tran aka “Damian,” is charged with distribution of carfentanil resulting in the death of his brother’s longtime girlfriend. The brother, Darren Pham Tran aka “Denny,” is charged with conspiracy to distribute carfentanil and oxycodone. According to a search warrant affidavit, Darren Pham Tran, who overdosed on August 25, 2017 but survived, found his girlfriend dead in her car a few days later, on September 3, 2017.

Early this morning, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies made numerous arrests and searched 11 locations in San Diego. The brothers were arrested in College Grove and 12 others were taken into custody in locations throughout San Diego and Riverside counties. Another defendant was in state custody and five were still at large as of 2 p.m.

“As the opioid epidemic rages across the nation, we will do everything we can to save lives,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “That includes pursuing charges against dealers of these drugs that are killing people every single day in this country. In the last several months we’ve prosecuted about a dozen cases in which dealers were accused of providing the illegal drugs that resulted in death.” Brewer praised prosecutor Dale Blankenship and local and federal investigators for their tireless efforts to keep dangerous drugs off the streets.

“Gang members profited off the trafficking of various dangerous drugs to include carfentanil – a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers.  “Purging this gang from our community exemplifies our commitment to fighting violent street gangs and their impact on the opioid epidemic.”

“The federal indictments in this case emphasize the commitment of the San Diego FBI to combat the distribution of dangerous drugs in our communities,” said Suzanne Turner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Diego. “This investigation, led by our DEA partners and supported by our federal, state and local task force members, demonstrates the combined effort and resources dedicated to keep San Diego a safer place for us to live.”

According to charging documents, the investigation targeted gang members from the Oriental Crips, Tiny Rascal Gang, Oriental Killer Boys, Viet Boys and Linda Vista 13 who set aside rivalries in order to maximize drug trafficking profits.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned that several of the defendants were involved in the distribution of prescription opioids and counterfeit prescription opioids laced with carfentanil.

Additionally, several of the defendants distributed marijuana to locations along the eastern seaboard using United Parcel Service and the United States Postal Service, according to court documents. Investigators identified defendant Manoxay Insisienmay as the principle marijuana distributor who obtained marijuana from grow operations in the Central District of California and then distributed it locally or shipped it out of state. Court records said Insisienmay operated from local drinking establishment “City Pub” on El Cajon Boulevard. According to the court documents, investigators learned that defendants processed and packaged marijuana at the apartment attached to the rear of the “City Pub.”  Investigators seized numerous parcels containing marijuana destined for Maryland where other individuals then distributed the marijuana. 

During the investigation, authorities also seized parcels containing drug proceeds mailed from out-of-state locations to San Diego, and identified several individuals operating “funnel accounts” on behalf of Insiseinmay. Drug distributors on the east coast made cash deposits into the funnel accounts;  the defendants then withdrew the cash in San Diego. Investigators identified in excess of $100,000 in cash transactions through the funnel accounts.

Investigators executed three marijuana-grow search warrants in the Central District of California and seized over 7,000 marijuana plants.  In addition, investigators executed a search warrant at an Air BnB and seized over $50,000 from out of state marijuana buyers who traveled from Florida to San Diego to buy marijuana.

DEFENDANTS                                           

Case Number 19CR0899-H

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Carfentanil (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1), 846);

Distribution of Oxycodone and Carfentanil Resulting in Death (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C);
Distribution of Oxycodone and Carfentanil Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C);

Maximum Penalties: For Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Carfentanil Charge: 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine;

Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Oxycodone and Carfentanil Resulting in Death and Serious Bodily Injury Charges: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a $1 million fine

Case Number 19CR0900-H

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1), 846);

Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1));
Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1)).

Maximum Penalties: For cocaine and methamphetamine charges: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.

Case Number 19CR0901-H

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum penalty: 40 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a

$5 million fine.

Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h);

Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and $500,000 fine.

AGENCIES

Drug Enforcement Administration

Federal Bureau of Investigation

United States Postal Inspection Service

Homeland Security Investigations

San Diego Police Department

San Diego Sheriff Department

If you have information regarding the fugitives in this case, please contact the San Diego DEA at 858-616-4100 or the San Diego FBI at 858-320-1800.

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.