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HONOLULU — A California man has been sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison after admitting his role in a long-running drug trafficking conspiracy that shipped large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to Hawaii, federal prosecutors announced.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, Bill Van Nguyen, also known as “Sau,” 57, of Garden Grove, California, was sentenced on June 22, 2026, by Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor to 220 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The court also entered a $118,050 money judgment, ordering Nguyen to forfeit proceeds obtained through the drug trafficking operation.
According to court records, Nguyen distributed, attempted to distribute, and conspired to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl between April 2023 and April 2025. During that period, prosecutors stated he supplied an undercover law enforcement employee in Hawaii with more than 34½ pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 11½ pounds of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills.
Federal investigators determined that Nguyen shipped the narcotics from California to Hawaii by concealing them inside cans labeled as hominy and condensed milk, an effort prosecutors said was intended to disguise the illegal shipments from law enforcement and shipping personnel.
According to court records, the undercover purchases totaled approximately $118,050 over the course of the investigation.
Investigators also determined that Nguyen maintained regular contact with the undercover employee through text messages, telephone conversations, and in-person meetings in California. During those communications, prosecutors said Nguyen claimed he had a supplier located in Mexico, traveled there during the conspiracy, and discussed his ability to obtain additional controlled substances, including oxycodone, cocaine, and ketamine.
Federal prosecutors further stated that Nguyen directed and worked with Dylan Dang, another California resident who traveled to Hawaii on two occasions to collect cash payments related to the drug transactions. Dang has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced in the District of Hawaii on July 7, 2026.
The investigation was conducted over approximately two years using undercover operations designed to identify and dismantle interstate narcotics trafficking networks responsible for transporting highly addictive controlled substances into Hawaii.
Methamphetamine remains one of the most commonly trafficked synthetic stimulants in the United States, while illicitly manufactured fentanyl continues to be a major contributor to overdose deaths nationwide. Federal authorities have increasingly targeted trafficking organizations responsible for transporting these substances across state lines through coordinated investigations involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Honolulu Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter prosecuted the case.
Federal prosecutors stated the investigation was conducted as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, a multi-agency enforcement effort that coordinates federal, state, and local resources to investigate and prosecute transnational criminal organizations, drug trafficking networks, human trafficking organizations, and other major criminal enterprises operating within the United States. In Hawaii, the task force includes personnel from numerous federal agencies working alongside local law enforcement to disrupt organized criminal activity and bring complex federal cases to prosecution.
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Nice work by law enforcement on this one and good cooperation between different agencies. Thanks to them we have one more deadly drug operation shut down. And I hope those out there involved in this kind of criminal activity see this sentence and take note. Eighteen years is a long time for someone of this man’s age. It is never too late to turn to God for repentance. I hope he makes that choice before his life is over.
Thank you for this article.
You’re very welcome, Chris.
Hopefully, cases like this deter at least some people from going down that road, though unfortunately many don’t think about the consequences until it’s too late.
You’re right that the sentence sends a strong message about the serious consequences of trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. As for your final point, I share your hope that people always have the opportunity to reflect on their choices and seek repentance. No matter the circumstances, it’s never too late to turn to God.
Thank you again for reading and for taking the time to share your thoughts, Chris. I hope you have a great day ahead. 😎
You’re welcome, John, and thank you for this good reply. I think you are right, particularly about the drug trade. So many of those who are caught don’t seem like they have thought about the consequences facing them if caught. I guess it’s the nature of the crime.
Thank you again, John, and I hope you have a great day as well!😊