Opium Trafficking Lands California Man in Federal Prison
A California man was sentenced to federal prison for trafficking in opium in northeastern Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward.
Wang Chong Khang (aka Pao Lee and Dao Lee), 25, of Oroville, California, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan to 46 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons followed by a three-year supervision period. Khang had pleaded guilty on March 2, 2010, to Possession of Opium with Intent to Distribute. He was originally indicted by the Grand Jury in January 2010.
Khang admitted that on November17, 2009, he picked up a package at the U.S. Post Office in Colcord, Oklahoma, that had been shipped from Vientiane, Laos. He signed the USPS receipt form using the alias of “Pao Lee.” The package originally contained 5.95 kilograms (approximately 13 pounds) of pure opium hidden among the contents, which was detected in shipment by inspectors. A controlled delivery of the package was made by law enforcement to the destination address at the Colcord Post Office. Khang admitted that he intended to distribute the opium to other individuals - knowing that it was wrong and illegal to do so.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Raley handled the case for the government.
