Laotian gets suspended sentence in pot conspiracy

A Harrisburg, Oregon, man was sentenced Thursday on a felony charge of conspiracy in the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs in Flathead County District Court. 

Thong Kahnh Phandanouvong, 50, received a 15-year suspended sentence with the Montana Department of Corrections. 

Phandanouvong was charged after another Oregon man was pulled over by police with 10 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle. The man, Dana Van Pelt, told police he was transporting the drugs at the behest of Phandanouvong, who was selling the drugs to another person in the Flathead Valley for $30,000. 

Phandanouvong is in the process of transferring his probation to Oregon, where he resides and owns a business. 

Before Judge Lympus ruled on the sentence, Phandanouvong’s attorney, Timothy Wenz, stated, “At no time was (Phandanouvong) in possession of any drugs. He was caught up with the wrong people and made some phone calls that facilitated this.” 

The defense asked for a shorter probation term, as Phandanouvong plans to return to his home country of Laos within the next three years. According to his visa status, if Phandanouvong returns to Laos, he will not be allowed back in the United States.