LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Two brothers made their initial appearances in federal court on Friday for allegedly transporting 100 pounds of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich.
Huy Ngoc Tran, aka “Tony,” 37, and Sinh Van Tran, aka “Paul,” 34, both of Riverside, California, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine. Both defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts, who scheduled a preliminary hearing on October 30, 2020.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, on October 14, 2020, Huy Ngoc Tran and Sinh Van Tran were arrested in the parking lot of a Las Vegas hotel and casino after delivering 100 pounds of methamphetamine for $300,000. The brothers had also agreed to deliver an AR-15 type rifle and a shotgun.
During the search of the brothers’ vehicle, in addition to methamphetamine, law enforcement found an AR-15 style rifle, a Norinco SKS rifle with a sling and bayonet, a scoped Ruger Mini-14, and a double-barrel 12 gauge shotgun.
Huy Ngoc Tran and Sinh Van Tran each face a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is the product of a joint investigation by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Nevada Gaming and Control Board.
