Rochester Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Rochester man, Panh Thavong, 51, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, Thavong began his involvement in the conspiracy in July 2022, shortly after being released early from prison for previous controlled substance felonies. Over the next several months, Thavong and his co-conspirators distributed methamphetamine in the greater Rochester area.

Law enforcement conducted an extensive investigation, identifying locations and vehicles Thavong used to facilitate the distribution of methamphetamine. On December 9, 2022, officers executed search warrants at these locations, seizing over 34 kilograms of methamphetamine. The drugs were found in multiple locations, including 3.5 kilograms at a stash house, 4.5 kilograms at a rental unit, and 26 kilograms inside a conspiracy vehicle. Thavong admitted that the drugs were intended for distribution.

Thavong pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on July 20, 2023, and was sentenced on August 23, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Tostrud.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, and the Red Wing Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.

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