Eight Members of Drug Ring Conspiracy Sentenced

Eight men connected to a St. Paul drug ring responsible for distributing methamphetamine and other controlled substances were sentenced this week in federal court in Minneapolis. United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced the defendants, who were charged in a superseding indictment on February 10, 2010.

Earlier today, Chief Judge Davis sentenced Kou Lee, age 31, of South St. Paul, to 300 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Patrick Michael Grovum, unknown age and address, to 21 months on one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; and Juan Mendez-Rios, age 31, of Minneapolis, to 60 months on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Davis sentenced Lee to an additional 15 months in prison for violating his supervised release in connection to a 2003 sentence in the District of Minnesota for distribution of methamphetamine. Lee pleaded guilty on July 19, 2010; Grovum pleaded guilty on June 21, 2010; and Mendez-Rios pleaded guilty on March 31, 2010.

In their plea agreements, Lee admitted that from May 1, 2009, through January 12, 2010, he conspired to distribute between 500 and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine. Grovum admitted that during that same time period, he conspired to distribute between 500 and 2,000 grams of cocaine. Mendez-Rios admitted that from January 10-13, 2010, he conspired to distribute approximately 453 grams of methamphetamine.

Yesterday, Judge Davis sentenced Jorge Ramirez Hernandez, age 22, of St. Paul, to 36 months on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Chou Vang, age 23, of St. Paul, to 120 months on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and Chue Yang, age 25, of St. Paul, to three years of probation on one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. Hernandez pleaded guilty on July 31, 2010; Vang pleaded guilty on July 22, 2010; and Yang pleaded guilty on July 21, 2010.

In their plea agreements, Hernandez and Vang admitted that from May 1, 2009, through January 12, 2010, they conspired to distribute between 500 and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine. Yang admitted that on November 20, 2009, he helped Hernandez, Lee, Deesa Xiong, and Vang distribute approximately 82.3 grams of methamphetamine.

On January 4, 2010, Judge Davis sentenced Sherman Lee, age 31, of St. Paul, to 324 months on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of brandishing a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime; and Xiong, age 28, of St. Paul, to 151 months on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sherman Lee pleaded guilty on July 19, 2010, and Xiong pleaded guilty on April 15, 2010.

In their plea agreements, Lee and Xiong admitted that from May 1, 2009, through January 12, 2010, they conspired to distribute between 500 and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine. Lee also admitted that during that time period, on at least one occasion, he possessed and brandished a Cobra, Model FS380, handgun while threatening another person during a dispute over unpaid drugs.

This case resulted from an investigation that included controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Kou Lee on November 20, 2009, and Sherman Lee on December 15, 2009. The November transaction occurred in a St. Paul apartment, and the December transaction took place in an Eagan parking lot.

Three co-defendants in this case already have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Eliseo Davila, age 39, of Mounds View; Zane Youalo Vang, age 25, of Oakdale; and Kong Meng Yang, age 25, of Brooklyn Center, all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Paul Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Wilton