L-R: Chha Chham, Kong Sayavong, Hannah Olivia Secrest
Courtesy of Catawba County Sheriff’s Office
Chham was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Sayavong was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Secrest was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The sentences stem from a local, state and federal narcotics investigation which centered around a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine in Catawba County as well as other locations nationwide. A co-conspirator, David Alexander Moralez Jr., who was convicted in federal court on October 21, mailed packages from California to Chham. Sayavong and Secrest distributed the methamphetamine Chham received.
Chham, Sayavong and Secrest previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sayavong also pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute meth. Moralez was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, two counts of distribution of meth, and money laundering conspiracy. He is currently awaiting sentencing.
Several federal, state, and local agencies were involved in the investigation including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; Alexander County Sheriff’s Office; Boone Police Department; Burke County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office; Catawba County Sheriff’s Office; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; Hickory Police Department; Newton Police Department; Long View Police Department; and Morganton Department of Public Safety.
Story: Courtesy of Rob Eastwood, WHKY