| Charge description: |
Lam Kim Nguyen was sentenced to a combined 75 years in prison on May 27, 2016 after pleading guilty to a multitude of felony charges. The 28-year-old Sugar Land man, who was already a convicted felon, was indicted for three counts of Delivering a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Body Armor, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Money Laundering. Under Texas law, Nguyen will serve 20 years on each drug charge concurrently before then serving 5 years on each of the remaining charges, also concurrently. According to Assistant District Attorney Taniya Al-Amin, the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force received credible information during the month of June 2015 that Lam Kim Nguyen was selling drugs from his Sugar Land home, which is within 1,000 feet of a park, making it a drug-free zone. Law enforcement began an investigation, including surveillance on Nguyens activities and the home. Based on their investigation, agents of the Task Force obtained a search warrant for Nguyens home. Executing the warrant with the assistance of the East Fort Bend Regional SWAT Team, Task Force officers located Nguyen in the master bedroom of the home. Officers found in plain view a handgun next to Nguyens nightstand, over 36 grams of synthetic marijuana, $1,603 in U.S. Currency, over 3.4 pounds of marijuana in glass jars, as well as rolling papers and a marijuana grinder. Officers also discovered more than 18 pounds of marijuana, over 688 grams of promethazine, 405 grams of Xanax pills, 324 grams of cocaine, 27 grams of Ethylone, counterfeit bills, scales, $26,704 in U.S. Currency, a gas mask, 5,000 rounds of ammunition, two sets of body armor, and 15 firearms including handguns, shotguns, and rifles, in the closet. In 2006, Nguyen was convicted and sentenced to 8 years in prison for Robbery, was paroled in 2010, and discharged from parole on November 28, 2014. Because he is a recently convicted felon, Nguyen cannot legally possess firearms or body armor. Drug dealers dont need rehabilitation they need to be off the streets, said lead prosecutor Tamiya Al-Amin. Nguyen was given a chance to turn his life around when he paroled out on the robbery charge. Considering the large amounts of narcotics and firearms discovered, he is a threat to the community not only himself, but potentially by the related crimes which traditionally flow from drug trafficking and abuse. Nguyen was tried in the 268th District Court before Judge James H. Shoemake, Presiding Judge of the 434th District Court. The drug charges in this case are first-degree felonies punishable by 5-99 years, or life, in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The remaining charges are all third-degree felonies punishable by 5-10 years in prison and the same fine. Attorney Eric Ashford represented the defendant. |
