DETROIT — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Michigan, Eastern), published as received.
DETROIT – A man who led an eight-year drug trafficking conspiracy, which smuggled and distributed hundreds of thousands of pills with methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP into the United States was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today.
Gorgon Jr. was joined in the announcement by Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit field office.
“In order to be a nation, we must have secure borders. Americans need to be protected from transnational criminals dumping their dangerous drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
“This sentencing brings Sychantha’s cross border criminal enterprise to a fitting end,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “The collective effort by the case agents, the prosecutors and our international partners is astounding, and I commend them all for a job well done. ICE HSI will continue to collaborate with our partners to disrupt and dismantle international drug trafficking operations that seek to poison our communities.”
Following a six-day trial held in Detroit before Chief United States District Judge Sean F. Cox, Khaophone Sychantha, age 43, was convicted of one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP, one count of possession of methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of ecstasy and BZP with intent to distribute.
Evidence at trial showed that Sychantha led an organization that directed several couriers to transport hundreds of thousands of pills and tens of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds across the United States-Canada border over an eight-year span. His couriers—many of whom were caught and convicted themselves—traveled to multiple states to deliver the pills. David Sok, Sychantha’s right-hand man, was also extradited from Canada and pleaded guilty earlier in the proceedings.
Prior to Sychantha’s extradition to the United States, HSI Detroit added Sychantha to the Homeland Security Investigations Ten Most Wanted List.
Sentencing was held before Chief United States Judge Sean F. Cox. At sentencing, the Court highlighted Sychantha’s seven Canadian convictions, his leadership role in the conspiracy, and the amount of pills smuggled into the United States under his command.
Sychantha was sentenced to serve 240 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. Because Sychantha is not a United States citizen, he will be deported back to Canada after serving his sentence.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Dorval Norwood and T. Patrick Martin.
