Two Members of Drug Ring Conspiracy Plead Guilty

Two men connected to a St. Paul drug ring responsible for distributing methamphetamine and other controlled substances have pleaded guilty to the crime in federal court in Minneapolis. Appearing before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis late yesterday afternoon, Kou Lee, age 30, of South St. Paul, and Sherman Lee, age 31, of St. Paul, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sherman Lee also pled guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. The men, along with nine co-defendants, were charged in a superseding indictment on February 10, 2010.

In their plea agreements, the Lees admitted that from May 1, 2009, through January 12, 2010, they conspired to distribute between 500 and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine. In addition, Sherman Lee admitted that during that time period, on at least one occasion, he possessed and brandished a Cobra, Model FS380 handgun while threatening another person during a dispute over unpaid drugs.

This case resulted from an investigation that included a controlled buy of methamphetamine from Kou Lee on November 20, 2009, and from Sherman Lee on December 15, 2009. The November transaction occurred in a St. Paul apartment, and the December transaction took place in an Eagan parking lot.

Several co-defendants in this case already have pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. Patrick Michael Grovum, unknown age and address; Zane Youalo Vang, age 24, of Oakdale, pleaded guilty in June of 2010. Deesa Xiong, age 27, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty in April of 2010. In March of 2010, Jorge Ramirez Hernandez, age 22, of St. Paul and Juan Mendez-Rios, age 32, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to the charge. A jury trial is set for July 29, 2010, for the remaining co-defendants.

For their crimes, Kou Lee and Sherman Lee face a potential maximum penalty of life in prison on the conspiracy charge. Sherman Lee also faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison on the firearm count. Judge Davis will determine their sentences at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Paul Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Wilton.