Arcadia Man Alleged Head of Marijuana Ring

An Arcadia man is accused of leading a marijuana trafficking ring that spanned three counties.

Investigators arrested 42-year-old Arcadia resident Raymond Lam and nine others — three of whom are also from Arcadia — Wednesday on suspicion of running marijuana grow houses across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

They are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and distribute  marijuana. An eleventh suspect, 39-year-old Monterey Park resident Andy Tran (also known as “Long Kim Tank"), remains at large.

The Drug Enforcement Administration-led investigation team executed search warrants at 26 locations from Arcadia to Fontana in Wednesday's sting. Authorities seized more than $250,000 in cash, seven guns — including an assault rifle — and more than 8,000 marijuana plants.

Investigators say Lam's trafficking organization purchased or leased single-family residences and converted them into industrial marijuana growing operations containing an average of 1,000 to 2,000 marijuana plants. The grow houses reportedly also used stolen electricity obtained through sophisticated bypasses of utility meters. 

The nine other defendants arrested Wednesday are:

• Simon Lam, 32, of Arcadia
• Ken Ho, 33, of Arcadia
• San S. Voong, also known as “Chen Sheng Wang,” 35, of Arcadia
• Phieu Tran, 35, of El Monte
• Augustine Bazan Camacho, 41, of Pomona   
• Thanh Van Phu, 33, of El Monte
• 50-year-old Rosemead resident Luc Kai Phoung, also known as “Wong Fong,” “Al Fong “ and “Na Na” 
• Steven Huytu Lam, 52, of Walnut 
• Li Ya Si, 42, of Temple City.

All 10 defendants are expected to make their initial court appearances Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Riverside. They face a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.