Member Of Vietnamese Drug-Trafficking Organization Convicted
BOSTON, MA. - A Randolph man was convicted today in federal court on drug charges after a three-day trial.
Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; New Bedford Police Chief David A. Provencher; Randolph Police Chief William Pace; and Taunton Police Chief Edward J. Walsh, announced that. Chau M. Luu,31, was convicted by a jury sitting before U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony which proved that Luu was a member of a Vietnamese drug-trafficking organization based in Chinatown. The evidence included intercepted phone calls between Luu and other members of the organization which revealed Luu’s close association with the organization’s leader and a drug distributor. Testimony proved that Luu collected and transferred substantial sums of U.S. currency to pay for large shipments of Canadian marijuana that were delivered to his residence. In 2007, law enforcement recovered approximately 120 pounds of Canadian marijuana, along with approximately $138,000 in vacuum-sealed packaging contained in a Spiderman backpack and a Louis Vuitton box from a drug courier’s vehicle that was heading to Luu’s residence.
Judge Saris scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1.Luu faces up to 20 years in federal prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Hafer and Young Paik of Ortiz's Drug Task Force Unit.
