Illegal alien sentenced for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine while armed at Northwest D.C. rental (DOJ)

WASHINGTON - Hieu Trung Vu, 37, a previously convicted felon and illegal alien from Vietnam, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with drug trafficking from a Georgetown Airbnb and unlawful possession of two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

"This defendant showed a complete disregard for our laws and our borders, yet he chose to arm himself with weapons and narcotics. A previously convicted felon, he continued to put American communities at risk by trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamines," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This illegal alien is exactly the type of offender the Trump administration is working tirelessly to remove from our country and after serving his sentence, he will be deported."

Vu pleaded guilty on March 17, 2026, before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, amphetamine, cocaine base, and fentanyl, and to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Because of his illegal status, after Vu serves his 60-month prison term he will be subject to deportation to Vietnam.

According to court papers, on Dec. 4, 2025, police received an emergency call reporting that a woman was in an apartment with a man, later identified as Vu, who was in possession of narcotics. Officers determined the location was a short-term rental in the 1400 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown and obtained a search warrant.

When officers executed the warrant, they recovered two handguns from a backpack in a bedroom, along with a substantial quantity of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and a debit card bearing Vu's name from a bag in the kitchen. Vu acknowledged that the firearms and narcotics were his, court papers state.

Laboratory testing confirmed the narcotics included methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, amphetamine, and fentanyl. One of the recovered firearms was loaded, court papers state.

Vu has a previous 2022 felony conviction in Fairfax County, Virginia, for possession with intent to manufacture or sell a controlled substance, for which he received a five-year sentence with more than two years suspended.

This investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division.

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Liss and Caelainn Carney. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

Police recovered this Glock 43X, 9mm pistol from Vu's Airbnb.

Police also recovered this CZ Model 27, 7.65mm pistol from Vu's Georgetown Airbnb.

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