Two employees at a state-registered marijuana grow site in Seminole County, Oklahoma, are facing federal charges after being indicted for allegedly smuggling and distributing illegal, unregistered pesticides from Hong Kong.
The federal indictment, unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, details charges against 44-year-old Jin Zhao Chi and 65-year-old Dian Lin Jiang.
Chi, also known as Chi LU or A Chi, faces one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, one count of smuggling goods into the United States, and a misdemeanor count of unlawful distribution and sale of pesticides.
Prosecutors allege that between February 25 and March 19, 2025, Chi willfully conspired to bring unregistered and misbranded pesticides from Hong Kong into the country, knowing the importation was illegal. The indictment also claims Chi distributed, sold, and held unregistered pesticides for sale from June 2022 through February 2025.
Jiang, also known as Dianlin Jiang, faces a single misdemeanor count of unlawful distribution and sale of pesticides. The indictment alleges that Jiang distributed, sold, and shipped unregistered pesticides between April 27, 2022, and May 8, 2023.
“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 the 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 joint investigation was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Homeland Security Investigations.
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