Tulsa Man Sentenced For Role In Large Scale Marijuana Conspiracy

A man who helped transport 1,500 pounds of marijuana from California to sell in Tulsa was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

Kong Meng Vang, of Tulsa, was sentenced to time served plus two years of supervised release says U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. 

“Kong Meng Vang chose to transport and deal massive amounts of marijuana in the Tulsa area. Now, unsurprisingly, he has been held accountable by the criminal justice system. That is a common path for those who choose to participate in the illegal drug business,” said Shores.

In August 2018, Vang pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and money laundering. As a condition of his supervised release, he must serve four months of home detention.

The following is a statement from Vang's attorneys: 

The purpose of sentencing in federal court is to impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than necessary” to comply with the four purposes of sentencing which are retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. Today Mr. Vang was sentenced after accepting responsibility for his actions for drug conspiracy, drug possession with intent to distribute, and a financial charge related to the drug crimes.

Judge Dowdell sentenced Mr. Vang with a monetary forfeiture judgement in the amount of $1,000,000.00, the loss of six pieces of real estate, some personal property, and twenty-one vehicles. In addition, he was sentenced to a period of incarceration which he has already served, four months of home detention, and two years of supervised release including substance abuse and treatment provisions.

According to Vang’s attorneys, Welsh & McGough, PLLC, “the totality of the sentence by Judge Dowdell sufficiently punished Mr. Vang for his actions while considering his qualification for the drug safety valve provisions, his acceptance of responsibility for his actions, his criminal history, financial loss, and family obligations.” Indeed, from the time of his plea until today, the law firm of Welsh & McGough, PLLC worked with the federal government on behalf of Mr. Vang to cooperate with authorities in surrendering his financial assets toward his forfeiture judgement to atone for his conduct.

Judge Dowdell recognized that Mr. Vang took responsibility for his actions and his substantial financial penalties in determining his sentence.  

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