ST. PAUL – A Minneapolis girl has pleaded responsible to operating a drug cash laundering operation on behalf of a large-scale fentanyl and marijuana vendor, introduced U.S. Legal professional Andrew M. Luger.
In accordance with court docket paperwork, between December 2018 and August 2019, Phouvanh Keokaythinh, 37, laundered money drug proceeds to hide the drug trafficking actions of a gaggle of gang members who operated as a drug trafficking group that distributed heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana in and across the Twin Cities. Keokaythinh saved giant quantities of money drug proceeds for Lyndon Swarn, a large-scale fentanyl and marijuana vendor, at her household residence in Bloomington. Swarn’s drug earnings was generated from the manufacturing and sale of unlawful fentanyl-laced Oxycodone capsules, in addition to the manufacturing and sale of enormous quantities of marijuana.
In accordance with court docket paperwork, Keokaythinh used money from Swarn’s drug proceeds to buy a farm property in Ironwood, Michigan. Swarn and his associates used this property to illegally develop giant quantities of marijuana. Keokaythinh and others laundered drug proceeds right into a checking account owned by L&S Administration LLC, a shell firm used for the acquisition, upkeep, and maintenance of the property in Ironwood. Keokaythinh additionally directed others to take care of a bank card that was used for Swarn’s private spending and different bills associated to the drug trafficking conspiracy. Between January 2017 and March 2019, Keokaythinh and others used drug proceeds to make roughly $117,782.72 in funds on the bank card.
Keokaythinh pleaded responsible yesterday in U.S. District Courtroom earlier than Senior Choose Susan Richard Nelson to 1 rely of concealment cash laundering. A sentencing listening to shall be scheduled at a later time.
On June 2, 2022, Swarn was convicted in Hennepin County of aiding and abetting first-degree homicide in relation to the New Yr’s Eve 2019 kidnapping and homicide of an area actual property agent. On Might 17, 2021, Swarn was convicted in U.S. District Courtroom for possession with intent to distribute greater than 33,000 fentanyl-laced Oxycodone capsules.
This case is the results of an investigation performed by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Division, and the Hopkins Police Division, with help from the Hennepin County Legal professional’s Workplace.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Harry M. Jacobs is prosecuting the case.
