Island Tri Truong, a resident of Orlando, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering connected to drug distribution proceeds. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Truong faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing yet to be scheduled. Her husband, George Pherai Bogeajis, was previously sentenced on November 13, 2024, to more than 19 years in prison for drug distribution.
According to the plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the couple’s Orlando home on April 9, 2024. Authorities seized over 51 kilograms of methamphetamine as well as cocaine, MDMA and fentanyl, multiple firearms, and $717,480 in cash linked to drug sales. Financial investigators determined that Truong laundered an estimated $766,000 from drug proceeds over four years prior to the search.
Investigators found that Truong and her husband deposited large sums of cash into various bank accounts while maintaining a lifestyle inconsistent with their reported income levels. While in Paris in 2023, Truong arranged for another individual to buy a gold Rolex wristwatch worth approximately $44,000 using Euros—despite reporting just over $21,000 in income that year. To avoid direct deposits into their own accounts and reduce suspicion from banks or law enforcement agencies, Truong delivered thousands of dollars in cash to friends and acquaintances who then transferred funds back into her accounts.
In one instance described by prosecutors: “Truong delivered $40,000 to an acquaintance who transferred the same amount to the construction company building her and Pherai Bogeajis’s home on Bearle Road. Truong then advised her friend to deposit the $40,000 into her bank in $9,000 increments over the course of months to avoid triggering bank and law enforcement scrutiny.”
As part of her plea deal: “Truong has agreed to forfeit two properties, including one property valued at approximately $838,000, and two luxury watches – all of which were purchased with proceeds of the drug distribution activities and were used to conceal the origin of those funds.”
The case is being investigated by multiple agencies including IRS Criminal Investigation Money Laundering Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana E. Hill and Jennifer Harrington are prosecuting.
