Fourteen defendants have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to an indoor marijuana growing operation consisting of more than 3,300 plants. The last of those defendants, Tuan Ngoc Pham, 40, of Savage, entered his plea earlier today before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis in Minneapolis. Tuan Ngoc Pham specifically pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture at least 1,000 marijuana plants.

Last week in this case, Vinh Xuan Hoang, 32, and Minh Van Duong, 35, both of Brooklyn Park, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, while Nhuan Van Nguyen, 59, of Maple Grove pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. Prior to that time, 10 others pled guilty to one count of conspiracy: Johnny Cuong Tran, 37, and Hoa Thai Tran, 22, both of Brooklyn Center; Doai Long Hoang, 41, and Thai Van Ngo, 34, both of Savage; Phuong The Cong, 29, and Timothy Quang Tran, 41, both of Shakopee; Kevin Dinh Phan, 43, of Blaine; Phung Duc Hoang, 30, of Brooklyn Park; Annie Huyen Vu, 37, of New Hope; and Tuan Van Nguyen, 41, of Maple Grove.

All of the defendants were indicted on July 6. The four remaining co-defendants in this case remain fugitives.In their respective plea agreements, the defendants admitted that from early 2009 through June 30, they conspired to manufacture marijuana plants. In addition, they admitted actually growing the plants in numerous homes throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

According to a Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) affidavit, law enforcementofficers involved in this case conducted surveillance at various metro locations in the spring of 2009. During that time, they observed the defendants routinely traveling between a number of homes. Then, on June 8, officers discovered 9.5 pounds of harvested marijuana in the trunk of Phuong The Cong’s vehicle following a traffic stop. Next, on June 30, authorities executed search warrants at many of the homes under surveillance.At six of the residences, active indoor marijuana cultivation or “grow” operations wereuncovered. In each of the homes, the electrical power needed for the grow operation had been stolen by tapping into the electrical panel just ahead of the meter.

In addition to thousands of marijuana plants, law enforcement officers executing the search warrants seized $13,000 in cash from a Coon Rapids residence; $112,000 in cash at a Blaine home; $68,000 in cash from a Shakopee residence; $32,000 at a Maple Grove home; and approximately 3 pounds of harvested marijuana at a Brooklyn Park residence.

Law enforcement officials also found evidence of dismantled marijuana grow operations related to this case at homes in Cottage Grove, St. Michael, and St. Paul Park. In the garbage left at the curb of a St. Paul Park home, for example, police discovered marijuana, gloves with marijuana residue, and other items commonly used in grow operations.The 13 defendants who pled to conspiracy face a potential maximum penalty of life inprison for their crimes, while Nhuan Nguyen faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Judge Davis will determine the sentences at a future date.