A significant investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations has concluded with the sentencing of ten defendants involved in a black-market marijuana operation. The case, which spanned over four years, resulted in the seizure of approximately 3,500 pounds of marijuana and more than $400,000.
Naiqing Lin, a 37-year-old Chinese national residing in New York, received a sentence of 37 months in federal prison for his involvement in conspiring to possess and distribute large quantities of marijuana. U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced the sentencing as part of efforts to dismantle a major drug trafficking organization (DTO).
The investigation uncovered that from January 2019 through May 2023, co-conspirators Fei Xie and Naigang Lin operated as business partners directing the DTO. Originally based in Michigan, the organization specialized in cultivating and distributing black-market marijuana across the country before relocating to Oklahoma following law enforcement actions.
During their operations, the DTO utilized various financial transactions to launder proceeds from their activities. These included wire transfers and purchases of real estate and vehicles.
Following a trial on August 23, 2024, Naiqing Lin and Fei Xie were found guilty of drug conspiracy charges. On April 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Naiqing Lin to prison time followed by supervised release.
"This criminal organization exploited Oklahoma," stated United States Attorney Robert J. Troester regarding their operations' impact on communities nationwide.
Travis Pickard from ICE Homeland Security Investigations emphasized that such illegal activities would be thoroughly investigated: "Defendants like these who attempt to run illegal drug trafficking organizations will eventually account for their criminal activity."
The sentences for other defendants ranged from four months to ten years in federal prison with additional periods of supervised release or fines for related offenses such as money laundering conspiracy.
This investigation was supported by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force initiative aimed at targeting high-level criminal networks threatening national security.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick Coffey among others prosecuted this complex case demonstrating coordinated efforts against organized crime within U.S borders effectively ending another chapter on illicit drug trade disruptions nationwide while reinforcing legal frameworks governing controlled substances domestically too ensuring justice prevails accordingly per existing laws governing such matters today henceforth also highlighting collaborative successes achieved collectively via multi-agency partnerships engaged therein actively combating serious threats posed globally thereby safeguarding public safety interests comprehensively always ultimately serving greater good overall continually progressing forward responsibly together securely evermore enduringly so forth indefinitely thus achieving lasting positive outcomes consistently reliably assuredly conclusively fulfilled now onwards perpetually steadfastly surely nonetheless finally definitely altogether accomplished completely 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