Man Tat Le Sentenced To 84 Months In Federal Prison For Distribution Of Methamphetamine

SALT LAKE CITY – Man Tat Le, aka Asian Le, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine Wednesday morning and was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball imposed the sentence.

Le, 45, of West Valley City, was charged with distribution of methamphetamine in January after law enforcement officers received information indicating Le was engaged in narcotics trafficking.  Special agents of the Utah State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), in conjunction with the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force, conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Le on Jan. 22, 2020, utilizing a confident human source (CHS). Le sold the CHS approximately 3 ounces of methamphetamine.

Le was arrested in January after leading members of the law enforcement officers on a chase.  A West Valley City police officer tried to pull Le over.  Le sped away from the officer and a 20-minute chase began.  He was taken into custody in Salt Lake City after officers spiked his tires, he crashed his car, and officers captured him as he attempted to flee the scene.

This is Le’s third federal conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Previous convictions were in June 2012 and September 2018.

Le is affiliated with the Oriental Laotian Gang in Utah. Federal prosecutors, partnering with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and county attorneys in Utah, have filed 476 gang cases since January 2018. A substantial majority of these cases include multiple defendants.

“Far too many offenders cannot leave their criminal conduct behind and continue to negatively impact the peace and safety of Utah communities. This conviction and prison sentence will ensure a seven year respite from this offender’s reckless actions that orbit around gang affiliation and drug distribution,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today. “He will be out of our state since there are no federal prisons in Utah, and there is zero chance of parole in the federal system.”

"The public shouldn't have to deal with violent offenders like Man Tat Le, who repeatedly brought dangerous drugs into our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the Salt Lake City FBI.  "The purpose of the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force is to keep our communities safe from criminals like Le, who mistakenly believe they are above the law and won't face tough consequences for their crimes."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case.  Agents and officers with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, Utah SBI, and West Valley City and Salt Lake City police departments are investigating the case.