Ten defendants in a black-market marijuana trafficking organisation were sentenced to a combined 463 months (more than 38 years) in federal prison after a four-year investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.[1][2] The drug trafficking organisation first operated out of Michigan, growing, brokering and distributing black-market marijuana across the country, then moved to Ada, Oklahoma in early 2022 after Michigan law enforcement actions, running a grow there and stash houses in Oklahoma City for out-of-state shipments.[1][2]
What was seized and who was sentenced
Investigators seized about 3,500 pounds (about 1,588 kg) of marijuana, some 5,000 marijuana plants, $409,883.04 in cash, real property worth $4,669,671.64 across ten properties, and ten vehicles.[1][2] The group laundered its proceeds through wire transfers, funnel and straw bank accounts, vehicle purchases and cashier’s checks and real estate buys.[1]
On 23 August 2024 a federal jury found Naiqing Lin and Fei Xie guilty of drug conspiracy after a three-day trial.[1] At the final sentencing hearing on 29 April 2025, US District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Naiqing Lin, 37, to 37 months in prison plus five years of supervised release.[1][2] Leaders Fei Xie and Naigang Lin received 120 months each; the other sentences ranged from four months to 46 months, with one defendant given five years of supervised release for money laundering conspiracy.[1] The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.[1]
