Thursday, Mar. 11 2010 6:34PM

Man sentenced for massive ecstasy conspiracy

LS man also sentenced for involvement

Journal Staff

Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the 28th and final defendant in a drug-trafficking conspiracy was sentenced in federal court for his role in distributing hundreds of thousands of ecstasy pills, worth approximately $2 million, in Jackson County.

Southanome Frichitavong, also known as “Pao,” 36, Euless, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Frichitavong to forfeit to the government $2 million, for which he is jointly and severally liable with other co-defendants, which represents the proceeds of the illegal drug trafficking.

On March 12, 2009, Frichitavong pleaded guilty his role in a conspiracy to distribute ecstasy in Jackson County from Nov. 9, 2004 to Jan. 1, 2007.

Frichitavong admitted that during 2006, he sold between 100,000 and 125,000 ecstasy pills to co-defendant Vu Nguyen Huynh, 25, Arlington, Texas. Huynh was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2010, to four years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy.

Four co-defendants were convicted at trial on Feb. 21, 2008, and have also been sentenced.

Dung A. Nguyen, 36, Texas, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Boun Rattanavong, 35, Grand Prairie, Texas, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Raphael L. Donnell, 34, also known as “Rags,” Kansas City, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Dempsey Johnson, also known as “Booky,” 30, Kansas City, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole.

Evidence introduced in the trial of Nguyen, Rattanavong, Donnell and Johnson indicated that the wide-ranging conspiracy involved between 400,000 and 450,000 ecstasy pills delivered to Kansas City from Texas, as well as PCP from California.

Evidence included undercover drug transactions, surveillance and telephone wiretaps that recorded conversations in which co-defendants discussed drug trafficking and firearms, including automatic weapons and assault rifles. Nguyen, Rattanavong, Donnell and Johnson were also found to be jointly and severally liable for a $2 million forfeiture to the government, which was derived from the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.

Twenty-two additional co-defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty, including Lee’s Summit resident, Gerald E. Dunn, also known as “G,” 37, who was sentenced to 14 years and seven months in federal prison without parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeTar Newbert. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.