SYRACUSE, New York (WWNY) – A man who tried to drive more than 200 pounds of marijuana from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation to New York City is going to federal prison.
Sentencing announced
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday that Wenjian Zhuo, 32, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was sentenced to 27 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
Following a two-day trial in federal court in Syracuse in February, a jury convicted Zhuo of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute it.
Details of the marijuana transport
Prosecutors said on January 22, 2025, Zhuo drove from New York City to the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation where his van was loaded with approximately 207 pounds of marijuana.
They said Zhuo began to transport the marijuana back to New York City where he intended to deliver it, when the U.S. Border Patrol pulled him over and seized the drugs.
Supervision after release
After Zhuo is released from prison, he will be under supervision for three years.
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