By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

THE sentencing of a woman involved in a number of illegal drugs activities on Guam has been moved to July 20 by the U.S. District Court of Guam.
Thu Loan Thai Dang, a Vietnamese, has been scheduled for a Wednesday sentencing but the court continued the proceeding following the objection of the defense lawyer in the presentencing report made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Dang’s lawyer, Curtis Van De Veld, recommended a probation sentence for his client, citing an extensive cooperation made by the defendant that resulted in the prosecution and arrests of many individuals involved in illegal drug syndicates.
Van De Veld, in his objection report, said that while the defendant appreciates that the government has made a recommendation to reduce the sentence to 37 months, the government failed to include Dang’s extensive efforts to help the Drug Enforcement Agency.
He said after pleading guilty, Dang spent several days being interviewed by federal agents, DEA, IRS and government attorneys.
Dang described in detail the illegal drug activities of her co-defendants, particularly Kong Kwok Chang.
She told agents that Chang purchased “ice” materials and finished products from persons in Hong Kong but that she was not involved in the discussions.
After her arrest, Dang worked with the DEA to trap drug dealers. She made several arrangements through federal agents to arrest drug syndicate members, including Francine LeFever, a runner for Vince Hocog Cruz, who is a former co-defendant of Ken Chan.
Van de Veld also said that a case against Cruz was made solely with the cooperation of his client.
Dang also cooperated with the government by providing information about her former boyfriend, Quang Tam Huynh, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine in excess of 1.5 kilograms. Huynh was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment.
The defense lawyer further stated that Dang was the sole source of information provided to the government in its case against Daniel Matsuno and Vivian Matsuno. The case resulted in diversion and was dismissed in November 2006.
The defendant also arranged a controlled buy transaction for 2 kilograms of drugs with a repeat offender Duane Calvo, who was a part of the operation run by her co-defendant.
The arrest of Duane Calvo further resulted in the arrest of Raymond Gerald Calvo and John Tracy “Troy” Santos. Raymond Calvo was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment.
According to Van de Veld, the government is duty bound to disclose the extent the credit for the cooperation derived from others with Dang’s assistance.
The defense added that Dang is still committed to cooperate with the DEA in the future if her cooperation is required, but she is asking the court to apply consistent standards to her and give her a sentence of probation. The defense said Dang’s cooperation has been more extensive than many former defendants charged at the same level and have received lesser sentences. .