Seminole County Marijuana Farm Employees Indicted on Federal Charges Relating to Illegal Foreign Pesticides

WASHINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the unsealing of a federal indictment against two employees of a state-registered Seminole County marijuana farm on charges relating to illegal foreign pesticides.

The Indictment charges Jin Zhao Chi, a/k/a/ a Chi LU, a/k/a A Chi, age 44, with one count of Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods into the United States, one count of Smuggling Goods into the United States, and one count of Unlawful Distribution and Sale of Pesticides-Misdemeanor.

The Indictment also charges Dian Lin Jiang, a/k/a Dianlin Jiang, age 65, with one count of Unlawful Distribution and Sale of Pesticides-Misdemeanor.

"We will not tolerate anyone profiting from polluting our lands and poisoning our citizens with dangerous, illegal Chinese pesticides smuggled into the American Heartland," said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "These illegal pesticides are often used in sophisticated criminal enterprises like illicit marijuana grows. EPA's criminal enforcement program is working with state and federal law enforcement to disrupt smuggling networks, shut down illegal importers and distributors, remove these products from commerce, and protect the health of all Americans."

The Indictment alleges that while employed at the marijuana growing operation:

• On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi willfully and knowingly conspired to import unregistered and misbranded pesticides from Hong Kong into the United States, knowing that the importation was contrary to law;

• On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi fraudulently and knowingly imported merchandise contrary to law, to wit, unregistered and misbranded pesticides, and did receive, conceal, buy, sell, and in any manner facilitate the transportation, concealment, and sale of such merchandise after importation, knowing it to have been brought into the United States contrary to law;

• Beginning in or about June 2022, and continuing to in or about February 2025, Chi knowingly distributed, sold, offered for sale, held for distribution, held for sale, held for shipment, shipped, delivered for shipment, released for shipment, and received, delivered, and offered to deliver an unregistered pesticide; and

• Beginning on or about April 27, 2022, and continuing to on or about May 8, 2023, Jiang distributed, sold, offered for sale, held for distribution, held for sale, held for shipment, shipped, delivered for shipment, released for shipment, and received, delivered, and offered to deliver an unregistered pesticide.

The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Homeland Security Investigations.

A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.