ST. PAUL, MINN. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Minnesota), published as received.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Brooklyn Center man was sentenced to 124 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for methamphetamine trafficking, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, in May 2020, law enforcement began investigating Matthew Hines, 37, of Brooklyn Center and his co-defendant Chue Xiong, 39, of St. Paul. As part of a drug trafficking conspiracy, Hines and Xiong coordinated and facilitated the distribution of methamphetamine, as well as collected drug proceeds to send back to their supplier. On May 11, 2020, law enforcement observed Xiong leave Hines’s residence with a brown bag in his hand. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Xiong’s vehicle and found approximately 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine inside the brown bag, 614 grams of methamphetamine in the driver’s side door pocket and a 9mm handgun underneath the floor mat on the driver’s side. Xiong was also wearing a holster. On May 12, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hines’s residence and vehicle. Inside Hines’s garbage they found a total of 419 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also found an additional 2.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in the back seat of Hines’s vehicle, $24,434 in cash and several cell phones.

Hines pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. Court by Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank.

On March 30, 2021, co-defendant Xiong pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 26, 2022, Xiong was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank to 156 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team, and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.