Texas Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison in Massive Ecstasy Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the 28th and final defendant in a drug-trafficking conspiracy was sentenced in federal court today for his role in distributing hundreds of thousands of ecstasy pills, worth approximately $2 million, in Jackson County, Mo.

Southanome Frichitavong, also known as “Pao,” 36, of Euless, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner this morning to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Frichitavong to forfeit to the government $2 million, for which he is jointly and severally liable with other co-defendants, which represents the proceeds of the illegal drug trafficking.

On March 12, 2009, Frichitavong pleaded guilty his role in a conspiracy to distribute ecstasy in Jackson County from Nov. 9, 2004, to Jan. 1, 2007. Frichitavong admitted that during 2006 he sold between 100,000 and 125,000 ecstasy pills to co-defendant Vu Nguyen Huynh, 25, of Arlington, Texas. Huynh was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2010, to four years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy.

Frichitavong is the final defendant to be sentenced among 28 defendants charged in a July 17, 2007, superseding indictment.

Four co-defendants were convicted at trial on Feb. 21, 2008, and have been sentenced. Dung A. Nguyen, 36, of Texas, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Boun Rattanavong, 35, of Grand Prairie, Texas, was sentenced on Oct. 31, 2008, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Raphael L. Donnell, 34, also known as “Rags," of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on July 9, 2008, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Dempsey Johnson, also known as “Booky,” 30, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on Sept. 10, 2008 to 20 years in federal prison without parole.

Evidence introduced in the trial of Nguyen, Rattanavong, Donnell and Johnson indicated that the wide-ranging conspiracy involved between 400,000 and 450,000 ecstasy pills delivered to Kansas City from Texas, as well as PCP from California. Evidence included undercover drug transactions, surveillance and telephone wiretaps that recorded conversations in which co-defendant! s discussed drug trafficking and firearms, including automatic weapons and assault rifles. Nguyen, Rattanavong, Donnell, and Johnson were also found to be jointly and severally liable for a $2 million forfeiture to the government, which was derived from the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.

Twenty-two additional co-defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty. Derrick T. Seals, also known as “D,” 29, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on June 9, 2008, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. James Robert Petersen, 35, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced on Dec. 3, 2008, to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Gerald E. Dunn, also known as “G,” 37, of Lee's Summit, Mo., was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2010, to 14 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Shannon Dewayne Luckey, 36, of Los Angeles, Calif., was sentenced on Jan. 28, 2009, to seven years in federal prison without parole. Jermaine Talley, also known as “Shorty,” 36, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on March 6, 2008, to seven years and three months in federal prison without parole. Brian C. Fennix, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on Dec. 11, 2007, to five years and 11 months. Quebe Seals, 29, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced on June 5, 2008, to five years in federal prison without parole. Dimitri Jones, also known as “MiMi,” 32, was sentenced on Jan. 24, 2008 to five years and three months in federal prison without parole. Delesha Hughes, 26, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison on Sept. 10, 2008. Jon C. Crawford, 28, of Topeka, Kan., was sentenced on Dec. 13, 2007, to two years and six months in federal prison without parole. Nicole Wyatt, also known as “Co-Co,” 30, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on March 3, 2008, to 21 months in federal prison without parole.

Wayne Williams, 25, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on July 9, 2008 to nine years and six months in federal prison without parole. Also sentenced to federal prison on July 9, 2008: Arron Hall, 29, of Kansas City Mo., received four years; Adrian Washington, 28, of Kansas City, Mo., received two years and six months; Simona Bryant, 38, of Kansas City, Mo., received 25 months; Jeffery Morgan, 30, of Kansas City, Mo., received six years; and Jason Cross, 24, received three years and five months.

On Aug. 5, 2008, four other defendants were sentenced: Maurice Davis, 31, also known as “Reese,” of Kansas City, Kan., received three years and 10 months; Adrian Wright, 33, also known as “Fat A,” of Kansas City, Mo., received 10 years; Andre L. Brice, 28, also known as “Dre," of Kansas City, MO., received 10 years; and Tremayne Tyler, 37, also known as “Pig,” of Los Angeles, Ca., received nine years. Damon S. Bryant, 39, also known as "D," 38, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on September 23, 2008 to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeTar Newbert. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.