Hao Chen, identified as the leader of a criminal enterprise dismantled by Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), was transferred to Oklahoma on Saturday. Chen, who was arrested on January 29 in New York City, has been moved from Rikers Island prison to the Oklahoma County Jail.
Chen faces 18 felony counts following a Multi-County Grand Jury indictment issued in November. He is among 20 individuals arrested across several states during Operation Blunt Force, an initiative led by the OCTF. All suspects have now been apprehended.
The operation focused on Chen’s organization, which is accused of running fraudulent medical marijuana licensing schemes in Oklahoma between 2021 and 2025. Authorities estimate that the group was responsible for producing around one million pounds of marijuana with a street value of $1.5 billion.
“Hao Chen and his associates will face the full force of the law,” Drummond said. “They undermined Oklahoma’s licensing process and put Oklahoma communities at risk. My office remains committed to protecting the safety of all Oklahomans and dismantling sophisticated criminal networks that exploit the medical marijuana system.”
According to prosecutors, Chen orchestrated a scheme using “straw owners” to unlawfully obtain licenses from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and registrations from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs for cultivation facilities. The group recruited local residents as straw owners, paying them to use their identities on fraudulent applications before illegally manufacturing marijuana and distributing it on the black market.
Investigators found that Chen maintained bank accounts with significant cash deposits and frequent wire transfers originating from New York. These funds were allegedly used to pay straw owners and other members involved in the conspiracy.
Drummond’s task force collaborated with 27 law enforcement agencies nationwide throughout this investigation. The work aligns with efforts described in the official biography of Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who leads initiatives targeting crime—including organized crime—and works closely with state and federal partners.
The Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General continues its focus on combating crime, supporting government transparency, strengthening tribal relations, upholding legal standards within public services, advocating for tougher laws against crimes such as drug distribution, and maintaining operations throughout Oklahoma (official biography).
